Undisputed — Over Death - Friday
Today’s Verse
Luke 24:5b-6a
Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! (NIV)
I’d like to think that we’ve had our own journey to the empty tomb through this week’s devos. And we, like the women who were first given the news, heard the words, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” As soon as the women heard this, they ran to tell others the good news. That should cause us to think about how urgent it is to tell our lost and broken friends this news.
Each of this week’s reflections is intended to remind us that the angel’s joyful, powerful, and loving proclamation in Luke 24:5-6 can and should inform the way we live. As I prepared to write this week, I took some time to think about the question the angel asked before announcing that Jesus had risen. “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” For some reason, this year that question stood out, and it occurred to me that I still try to look for the living among the dead. When I search for self-worth through the approval of others, I find no life there. When I pridefully seek to advance myself, I’m looking for life where none exists. When I attempt to fill the empty spaces inside that only God can fill, I’m looking for the living among the dead.
Even Jesus’ closest followers didn’t truly understand all that Jesus had done to try to prepare them for His death and resurrection. Only the women went to the tomb the next morning, and even they hadn’t thought that He could possibly be alive. As Mary stood by the tomb crying, Jesus appeared to her, but she didn’t recognize Him until He said her name. At some point, we all finally recognize Jesus, who was there all along.
REFLECTION
While we weren’t eyewitnesses to the empty tomb, we can still say we’ve met the risen Christ, as evidenced by the way we live out our faith. And we can know personally and deeply that He is alive within us. “I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not ‘mine,’ but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that” (Galatians 2:20-21 MSG).
