How wonderfully faithful were the women who went to the tomb on the first Easter morning. They faced a difficult task. On Friday they witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion. They knew the nature of the job that awaited them, they knew how terribly bloody and gored they would find Jesus’ body.
They got up early in the morning to take on this important task. They knew it would not be an easy experience, but it was something they were willing to do out of love. And so they gathered together the spices and ointments and things necessary for preparing a body.
And then as they approached the tomb, very early in the morning they found the stone rolled away. And as they entered to investigate, they did not find the body of Jesus. The very thing they were bracing for could not happen. Within moments of this confusion two men in dazzling apparel stood beside them. They are so scared that they bow down with their faces to the ground, and they hear the first words from these men: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
As faithful as these women were in their duty and love toward Jesus, they had missed something of incredible importance, they missed Jesus’ promise that he would rise again. As a result they were seeking the living among the dead, they were looking for Jesus in the wrong place.
Today we also see this mistake. How often it happens, people overlook what Jesus says about life in him, and so they seek the living among the dead. They look for life in the wrong places.
In efforts to fit in with the world, people will make fools of themselves trying to make a name for themselves or win popularity. They overlook the fact that friendship with this world that is passing away cannot bring life.
Others seek fulfillment in life from the pleasures of the senses. Why do some people drink too much? Why do some people use illegal drugs? For many people pleasure seeking or thrill seeking can become the ultimate goal of life. But they are seeking the living among the dead.
Others may seek financial abundance. People seek after the promise that life has more value with more treasures and possessions. But all lives whether wealthy or poor- end with a tomb that is filled with a body. Seeking the living among the dead just punches your ticket for death.
Even religious commitment and fervor can lead to seeking the living among the dead. Think of all of those religions out there that require certain specific rituals to be in good favor to an unknown god. During the showdown at Mt. Carmel the prophet Elijah mocked those who followed god’s who cannot save or act, who are mere idol creations of man.
People who turn to false gods are seeking the living among the dead. If you are focusing on how you can keep the law better than those around you, if you see only your works and your sin, and do not see a Savior, then even in your faith you can be seeking the living among the dead.
Martin Luther described his early days as a monk produced just this result. He feared God’s wrath and believed he was eternally lost, believing his works could never be enough to save him. During this period as he looked within himself, and looked at the depth of his sin, he could not see Jesus his living Savior.
In the same way, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James went to the tomb with love in their hearts for Jesus. They loved him greatly and deeply mourned losing him. But they were lacking faith. They had not believed Jesus’ words that on the third day he would rise. They expected to find the tomb with Jesus’ body, not empty.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 15 Paul shares about this faith in what Jesus says that the women at the tomb did not yet posses. “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you- unless you believed in vain.”
What is this gospel? “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.” This is what happened on Good Friday when Jesus died on the cross. St. Paul passes on to us the message of first importance: that Christ died for our sins. For our sins! The cross had not been a failure of God’s plan or a triumph of Satan. It was the plan, the plan for us.
In accordance with the scriptures, Jesus was buried, he was raised on the third day, and he appeared to Peter and then the twelve. Jesus’ death and resurrection is for you! This is the gospel, this is what gives life!
Had the women on that first Easter morning understood this, that Jesus’ death was God’s plan for saving them, they would have expected Jesus to rise, rather than look for the living among the dead.
This is true life for all who believe. Fame and fortune and pleasure are fleeting, but faith gives eternal life. Just as Christ’s tomb was empty on Easter, so also in the resurrection of the dead shall we be raised- and our tombs will be empty.
It wasn’t until Luther became thoroughly acquainted with the scriptures that he discovered the wonderful message of salvation that he shares in his catechisms. After years of studying the Bible, he finally discovered what it meant all along- this for you, for our sins which is the Gospel.
Luther realized Jesus had died for his sins and granted him forgiveness through faith. Luther wrote: “I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith.” This was such wonderful news for Luther that he writes: “I felt that I was all together born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates.”
Luther’s Easter Hymn Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands shares this joy Luther found in understanding what Christ’s death and resurrection meant for us.
“Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands For our offenses given; But now at God’s right hand He stands and brings us life from heaven. Therefore let us joyful be and sing to God right thankfully loud songs of alleluia! Alleluia.”
No son of man could conquer death such ruin sin had wrought us. No innocence was found on earth, and therefore death had brought us into bondage from of old and ever grew more strong and bold and held us as its captive. Alleluia!
Christ Jesus, God’s own Son came down, His people to deliver; destroying sin he took the crown from death’s pale brow forever: Stripped of power, no more it reigns; and empty form alone remains; its sting is lost forever. Alleluia
It was a strange and dreadful strife When life and death contended; the victory remained with life, the reign of death was ended. Holy Scripture plainly saith that death is swallowed up by death. It’s sting is lost forever. Alleluia.
Here our true Paschal Lamb we see whom God so freely gave us, He died on the accursed tree- So strong His love to save us. See his blood now marks our door. Faith points to it, death passes oe’r, and Satan cannot harm us. Alleluia!
So let us keep the festival To which the Lord invites us; Christ is himself the joy of all, the sun that warms and lights us. Now his grace to us imparts Eternal sunshine to our hearts; the night of sin is ended. Alleluia!
Then let us feast this Easter day on Christ the bread of Heaven; the Word of grace has purged away the old and evil leaven. Christ alone our souls will feed, he is our meat and drink indeed; faith lives upon no other! Alleluia!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us feast this Easter Day on Christ! Let us rejoice that he lay in death’s strong bonds for us. Know this day that Jesus is our true source of life, who is risen from the dead and will die no more.