Why do the angels ask, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" The Scene at the Tomb • At early dawn, several women arrive at Jesus’ grave to anoint His body (Luke 24:1). • They find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. • “While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them” (Luke 24:4). • The angels’ opening words: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5). Unpacking the Angelic Question • It corrects a mistaken assumption: the women thought Jesus was still dead. • It announces a stunning reality: Jesus has conquered death—He is alive. • It highlights a location mismatch: a tomb is the realm of decay; the Risen One belongs elsewhere. • It implicitly calls the women—and every listener—to shift from sorrow to faith. Living Truth versus Dead Religion • Searching a grave for the Savior reveals a heart still rooted in death’s viewpoint. • Romans 6:9—“For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him”. • Revelation 1:18—“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever”. • Every form of lifeless ritual or tradition that ignores Christ’s resurrection is like looking for the living among the dead. Prophecy Fulfilled • Jesus had foretold His resurrection: “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day rise again” (Luke 24:7). • Isaiah 53:10–11 promised the Suffering Servant would “prolong His days.” • Psalm 16:10—“You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay”. • The empty tomb proves God’s Word stands secure, validating every prior promise. Implications for Us Today • Hope: Because Jesus lives, believers possess a “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). • Identity: Ephesians 2:5—“Even when we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ”. • Mission: Acts 1:22 links apostleship to being “witnesses of His resurrection.” Our testimony centers on a living Savior, not a fallen martyr. • Worship: We meet a present Lord who “lives to intercede for us” (Hebrews 7:25). Conclusion The angels’ question jars the hearers awake: an empty tomb is not a place to mourn but a monument to victory. Christ is risen, just as He said. The living cannot be found among the dead, and those who trust Him share His life now and forever. |
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