Why do you Look for the Living among the Dead?

luke 24:1-12

Most likely, you've read this story many times.  You will hear it read this morning.  If you've already been to church, take a minute and read it again.  Or, my friend, read it for the first time.  It's pretty incredible whether it's the first time or the fiftieth or the thousandth time you've read these words.

Jesus's body was not in the tomb.  The angels said this to the women who went to the tomb to prepare the body for a fitting burial:

Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen! 

What a surprising thing to say.  Why wouldn't he be in the tomb?  After all, he died on the cross just hours ago.  They saw him cut down; they saw his body carried away.  Why wouldn't he be here?

Ah, but remember his words:  'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'

The women reminded the disciples, but, alas, 'they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.'

These words remind me of the scripture in I Corinthians 1:21:

 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

or this scripture in Isaiah 11:6:

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

God often doesn't operate the way we think he should.  He calms the seas; he parts the waves; he causes the blind to see and the lame to walk.  And his son, his only son, was crucified, died and was buried.  But that wasn't the end of the story.  On the third day he rose from the dead.  Hallelujah!

Eternal life starts today!   Thank you, father, for the gift of your son.  On this Easter morning, I rejoice that he is not in the tomb - he has risen indeed.