"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest." -- Luke 24.1-9

     We have an inherent mistrust of strangers. It begins with our parents who caution us in a world of uncertainty, “Do not talk to strangers.” We discover by bad experience not to place our trust in people whose character or customs we do not know. The guide who directed our tour in Israel cautioned us from asking directions from the locals. In the near eastern culture it was an insult to be unable to answer this question of hospitality. You would receive directions; but to where, would be uncertain.

     So it seems, well, strange, to find the announcement of Christ’s resurrection in the mouths of strangers. How would those first disciples know if these strangers words were true? The strangers appeal is simple; they appeal to the words of Christ heard by these disciples for the last three years. God’s redemption is unfolding right at this moment, right in your midst. Yes, Jesus was handed over; yes, Jesus was crucified, yes, today is the third day. The mental arithmetic leads to only one conclusion—“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

     And those strangers had it right. Easter is not concerned about an historical event, although it is firmly rooted in history. Instead, Easter is a description of reality. Jesus is alive. So why do we look for the living among the dead? With the new reality of Christ’s resurrection, we can enter into a living relationship with the living Christ. Don’t settle for history when you can have him. Happy Easter!

     For His Glory,

  Pastor Dave

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