Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Luke 24:5 Why do you look for the living among the dead?
BEFORE THEY REACHED JERUSALEM
Even in the early morning gloom the women noticed that something was not right. Where the tomb's door should have stood solid and white, there loomed a dark, black hole.
Running footfalls startled the women, and they turned to see Mary Magdalene striding back down the trail toward Jerusalem. But the others remained. Even fear of what they might find could not keep them back from the tomb.
What they found inside puzzled them. The grave clothes were here, but Jesus' body was gone. As they pondered, two men appeared in dazzling whiteness. As the women melted to the ground in fear, the visitors spoke:
" ... Why do you look for the living among the dead?"
" ... Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay" (Matthew 28:5-6).
"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'" (Luke 24:6-7).
"But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you'" (Mark 16:7 NIV).
With fear and joy the women hurried toward Jerusalem. Jesus was alive! They would see Him in Galilee! The minds of the women raced with their feet.
But rounding a corner they halted. Every mouth opened, all eyes widened, and their lips curled into huge smiles. There stood Jesus Himself! He greeted them as they fell at His feet in worship.
The women expected the worst when they approached the broken tomb. But God smiled and sent them two gentle angels to explain the mystery. Then they expected to see Jesus in Galilee, some 75 miles north. But Jesus smiled and met them before they even reached Jerusalem. 