The Living Jesus

Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (John 14:19-20)

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When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:1-6)

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"Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. (Rev 1:17-18)

Modern "Believers"

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 into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Then they remembered his words. (Luke 24:1-8)

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Christianity is supposedly founded upon the belief that Jesus was raised from the dead and is still alive. I’m wondering lately how many who claim to be Christians really believe that. I don’t mean to sound harsh or judgmental, I'd just like you to give serious consideration to something.

Here’s what I’ve been pondering lately: Suppose someone dear to you were killed in an automobile wreck. That spot where the incident occurred would be marked in your psyche; that place would become sacred ground.

You might do like many others do these days and erect a marker, a roadside memorial. You might revisit that place on the anniversary of the event, returning each year at the same time to remember the one who was no longer with you.

Now suppose someone dear to you were killed in an automobile wreck. The paramedics and EMTs worked tirelessly and were able to resuscitate your loved one! You’d no doubt be ecstatic, overjoyed.

How often would you return to the spot of that incident and relive the events of that day? My guess is not very often. And if you did for a while after the event, it would eventually become less important to do so. Why?

Because the person was alive. They are with you. You could talk to them each day and share life together. The incident would become a memory of the past.

I’m wondering if most of the “believers” in Jesus' resurrection really believe. We relive the death every year, we return to the tomb, but would it really be so important to do so if we really talked to him each day and shared life with him?

If the angels appeared at the tomb today they might ask those making the pilgrimage, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" “What are you doing here? Why are you still stuck in the past? Jesus has been done with this place for a long time and he’s not looking back. He walked out of here and wants you to follow him and share life with him."

Just something I've been thinking about.