Resurrection Responses

Good morning. I'm Jason. It's good to be with you today. We're so happy you're here. We've got a runaway child. He's all right. We are so happy you're here. Happy Easter to you.

Happy Resurrection Day. And I would be remiss if I didn't share with you the Easter story. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to invite you to open a Bible. If you haven't brought one with you, we have one somewhere maybe in a rack below the seat in front of you. Find the Gospel of Luke,

Luke chapter 24. Matthew, Mark, Luke. It's toward the back of the Bible. Gospel of Luke chapter 24. And we're going to take a look today at the first 12 verses.

Luke 24 · chapter mention Luke 24 · chapter mention

And get ready for the greatest story ever told. Verse 1. But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. But they went in. They did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.

And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, Why do you seek 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 delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day rise.

And they remembered his words. And returning from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles.

But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb, stooping and looking in. He saw the linen cloths by themselves, and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Would you pray with me? Father, as we look at the story that you've preserved, not just one account, but three or four accounts in your Gospels, Father, we want to learn what you have for us today.

Father, may we experience and get, Lord, our minds and hearts into the wonder of this event, Lord. And may we stop not just simply at marveling, not just simply at amazement.

May we go all the way to belief in your Son and what he has accomplished, which we celebrate today on this Resurrection Day. And we pray this in his name, in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen. Now, it's actually chapter 23, if you want to turn a page back, and you can see some of the events that have led up to this. We have women here this morning in this passage.

We have some devout women who were a part of Jesus' earthly ministry, and they have now come from Galilee with Jesus, and they've been in Jerusalem all this week with the disciples and with Jesus.

We know that it's a week that culminated in his betrayal Thursday night. His betrayal in the arrest followed by an overnight sham trial. We know that Jesus was literally jerked from one palace complex to the next, in front of one ruler to the next.

Chief priest, Pilate, Herod, back to Pilate for a second time and a final appearance. And here at the urging of Israel's bloodthirsty religious leaders, Jesus was sentenced to death by a somewhat reluctant Roman governor who sent him to death anyway.

John chapter 19 actually tells us that the women, the very same women that we just read about here, they were actually at the scene of the cross.

John 19 · chapter mention

They were standing there. And where were all the male disciples? They had all but one run away and fled, and even the one that was nearby was not at the foot of the cross but was nearby.

And that's John. And what a horrific day that was. If you were with us a couple of days ago, we had a service where we honored that moment, that Good Friday that we call it, but it was a horrific day.

Culminating in a final cry from Jesus at the cross, it is finished. Jesus dies by 3 p.m. Friday afternoon. His side is pierced by a Roman soldier with a spear just to make certain.

And with the Sabbath fast approaching, remember this is Friday, and by the time the sun sets, it will be the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders are concerned.

And so with the permission of Pontius Pilate, one particular man, Joseph of Arimathea, goes and seeks that permission to take the body down from the cross, which he obtains.

We're also told another man joins him, goes with him to help. His name is Nicodemus, the Pharisee, who'd earlier come to Jesus by night. Together they take the body of Jesus down.

They bind it in linen cloths with the burial spices. And we're told that they place the body in Joseph's own new tomb in a garden nearby. And now as the sun has set for the night, it leads into a quiet,

a hushed time of Sabbath. It's what we now call Holy Saturday, a day no doubt filled with shock. I imagine grief, confusion, tears, and then the sun sets for a second time.

You know, sometimes in the stages of grief, they talk about shock as a stage, and sometimes it takes the second night before you realize the person who's been with you is not going to be there.

They're gone. And so here it is the second night, and it gets dark, and they sleep as well as they can. And then the story picks up, and it's not quite dawn.

It's almost dawn. And what we read is that our women, the very same women who were at the foot of the cross, they are up very early. Still dark, in fact.

Luke 23 tells us that they had watched Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, and how they had prepared Jesus' body, and they saw how and where they laid him.

And so, after a faithful Sabbath observance, all day Saturday, they are now up at the crack of dawn to get to the body. To perform what was customary, to anoint and rewrap the dead body, the corpse of Jesus, with fresh spices and ointments that they have prepared.

It's down in verse 10 where Luke names the women for us, doesn't he? He names at least three of the group. We're told there are others. He names Mary Magdalene and Joanna.

They are the two that are named first. And actually, they've been introduced to us earlier in this gospel, way back in chapter 8. Here it is in Luke chapter 8, verses 2 and 3.

Luke 8:2

And the twelve were with him, Jesus, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities. Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Shusa, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others,

who provided for them out of their means. It seems that at least two of these women were formerly demon-possessed. But because of Jesus, they've been cleansed and freed and saved.

Among them is this woman, Mary. Mary, the mother of James, we read. You know, it's kind of funny. They joke about all the Marys. You know, there's just so many Marys to keep track of.

Because there's also a Mary, Clopas, named in another gospel. And if you haven't forgotten, Jesus' own mother is another Mary. And so, you know, there's the tradition, if you're, we're not really in the traditions of these kinds of things.

But the three Marys are highly venerated. You know, the funny thing is about the three Marys, is we're not sure which three they are. There are different accounts, and different traditions, venerate different Marys.

So, we don't know who's in the big three, I guess we would say. But anyway, however many Marys there are, in this group, it's early dawn, when they first arrive at the scene of the tomb.

In verse 1. I can kind of see it, can't you? The sun is just cracking over the horizon. They first arrive, with the first dawn of light. Luke very deliberately notes for us, that it is the first day of the week.

Now, I don't know about you, but in life today, I sometimes forget that Sunday, is the first day of the week. Maybe it's because of our work schedules, or school, we tend to think of, a new week starts with Monday.

But no, actually Sunday, is the first day of the week. And of course, that might remind us, of the order of days, in creation. As God gave them in Genesis.

What did he say in Genesis 1 and 2? Six days, what did he show, I should say? Six days for work, the seventh day for rest. And then Sunday, is the beginning, of a new week.

And how fitting it is, that it's the same this week, here in the final days of Jesus. Six days for the Son of Man, to do his work. His work is finished, on the sixth day, on Friday, so that the seventh day, well, that's for rest.

Resting inside that tomb. And now, with the work done, the ultimate work, the preeminent work, of redemption, accomplished, finished, as Jesus himself says, it's now the dawn, of not just a new week, but a whole new era.

A whole new creation. I love how Matthew, begins his resurrection account, over in Matthew chapter 28. Here's how he does it, in Matthew 28 verse 2, he says,

Matthew 28 · chapter mention Matthew 28:2

Can you imagine this, for a minute? Now, some of you, maybe come from, earthquake country, we get a couple here, but you sometimes, don't even notice.

But where there are, real earthquakes, from what I understand, there's real fright, there's real fear, for people. I can imagine, it would be a pretty, frightening experience, and this one, we're told, is caused by an angel.

I mean, how powerful, are these beings, by the way? They can cause earthquakes. Mark 16, adds that the women, were also very worried, about the stone, the very large stone, that was rolled, in front of the tomb.

This would be a, disc shaped stone, that it took several men, to roll in front of the entrance, and roll back, and they're saying to themselves, we're not sure, we plan for this, we don't know, how we're going to get it moved.

Can we somehow, do it together? And yet, our angels, taking care of that problem, hasn't he? Verse 2, in our passage, we're told, that they found the stone, rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not, find the body, of Jesus,

of the Lord Jesus. Now, if you're a detective, this might be clue number one, that there's been a resurrection, the tombs wide open, right? Nobody inside.

Clue number two, would be, the fact that, yeah, there's no corpse, and there in fact, are some clothes, that are there, that the corpse was wearing.

We'll get to that, in just a moment. Now, Luke's account here, doesn't tell us anything, about any guards, but from Matthew again, we learned, that there actually, were guards, posted here.

And we learned, that when the angels, showed up, or actually angels, because there were, two of them, often in the Bible, if it's only one, speaking, they'll name just the speaker, but there were two.

The guards, were so freaked out, at these angels, that they literally, convulsed, they passed out, were told they became, like dead men, just laying there.

Our women go on, to take a peek inside, and they, honestly, they fare a lot better, a lot braver, than the men, than the guards. Because when they, see the two angels, these men, in dazzling apparel, verse five, we're told that they, bowed with their faces, to the ground.

That's a very typical, response, when you're in the presence, of something supernatural, something heavenly. And they know, that they are in the presence, of something very heavenly.

Now, sometimes it's noted, that the accounts, the different resurrection accounts, especially Luke, and John, they have a few, slightly different things, in different order.

But we have to remember, that neither, is trying to be, exhaustive. They, in fact, seem to know, about the other accounts. And what they're, in fact, trying to do, is each give their own report, from their own, perspective.

And so, questions like, Mary, did Mary, and the women, make one visit, to the tomb? Or did they, go get the disciples, and then come back, a second time?

John's gospel, seems to indicate, that yes, that's in fact, what happened. At least for Mary, that she returns, because we read about, how she actually, goes on to, meet the risen Jesus, outside the tomb, and mistakes him, for the gardener.

But the message, of the angel, Luke records that, for us here, and it focuses, on this part. Here's the first thing, that they say. Verse five, why do you seek, the living, among the dead?

Why do you seek, the living, among the dead? You know how, when somebody's, really uncomfortable, or kind of freaked out, sometimes humor helps?

You ever been, in a situation like that? And maybe you're, like the person, that's freaked out, and you're kind of, annoyed at the humor? This isn't time, to be funny.

You know, it's kind of like, this is what the angels, are doing, in some ways, with these words, that they speak. They're kind of, playing around, a little word play, from the Old Testament.

Actually, their words, are a pretty close echo, from something, that's said, in Isaiah chapter 8. This is a time, when God's kind of, rebuking the people, of Israel, for inquiring, of mediums, and necromancers.

Isaiah 8 · chapter mention

They're getting, into the occult. They're going, to the dead, to get guidance, about how to live. Here's what Isaiah 8, verse 19 says, should they inquire, of the dead, on behalf of the living?

Isaiah 8:19

And here, what do they say? Why do you seek, the living, among the dead? In other words, the one you're seeking, he's alive now. He's not going to be, in the place, associated with death.

And if you want, to inquire of him, if you want to see him, don't go looking, in places, reserved for the dead, like tombs.

He's not here. Our dazzling men continue. He is risen. Remember? Remember, how he told you, while he was in Galilee, verse 7, that the Son of Man, must be delivered, into the hands, of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day,

rise. He must go through, these three things. And Jesus talked about it, with them quite often. There's at least, a couple, three different occasions, in Luke alone, where these words, are recorded from Jesus.

How he's going to be, delivered, over, and he's going to be, crucified and killed, and on the third day, he's going to rise again. And why the third day?

Why not, why not like the next day? Well, there might be something, to the first century, Jewish idea, that for a person, to be truly dead, and not like, capable of being, resuscitated, that a couple of days, tells you for sure.

Right? By the third day, nobody's mostly dead, to use the words of, what, the princess bride? Nobody's mostly dead, by the third day. They're dead, dead.

They're completely dead. That may be part of the reason, but you know, there's actually, a much bigger reason. There's a theological reason, for the third day.

You may or may not know, that in many, Old Testament passages, the third day, was regarded, as the day of salvation. The day of salvation. Genesis chapter 22.

Genesis 22 · chapter mention

You have the story, of the patriarch Abraham, preparing to offer, his one and only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. By the way, yes, that is a precursor, that's a foreshadowing, of what God will do, one day with his own son.

God has told him to do this, and what day is it, when Abraham, we read, lifts up his eyes, and sees the place, where it's supposed to happen, the place for the sacrifice?

The third day.

Or in the book of Esther, anybody familiar, with the book of Esther? You've got a new, young queen, contemplating, taking a colossal risk, by appearing, before the Persian king, unannounced, which could cost her, her life.

She's taking a huge risk, she asks her own people, the Jewish people, for three days of fasting, and prayer, and then she appears, before the king, and he holds out, the golden scepter to her, which is the beginning, of the deliverance, the salvation of the people.

What day does that happen on? The third day, Esther chapter 5, verse 1, third day.

Esther 5:1

Prophecies from Hosea, Hosea chapter 6, verse 2, after two days, he will revive us, and on the third day, he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

Hosea 6:2

And then of course, who can forget about, you know, my favorite prophet, the prophet Jonah, right? The guy that gets a little, too much sun, and starts cursing things.

The guy that doesn't want to, go where the Lord sends him, and in fact turns around, and goes the opposite direction.

Jonah, swallowed up, in the belly of that great fish, of course, swallowed for his protection. You say, I don't understand how someone, lives inside of a fish.

I don't either, it's a miracle story. But it happened, he's there, for three days, and three nights, we're told, until the time comes, for the fish, to providentially, vomit him up, out of his watery grave.

And what day is it? It's on the third day. Jonah 2, verse 10. The third day. Yes, lots of theological significance. Now for, I know some of you, smart alecks out there, you're sitting there, you're saying, three days, come on, it's like 39 hours, 40 hours,

Jonah 2:10

in the tomb, right? 3 p.m. Friday, what's dawn? 6 a.m., 7 a.m., Sunday morning? But we have to understand, that the Jews, counted their days, a little differently, than we do today.

They, they, they counted them, on what one scholar, describes as an inclusive basis. That's good. Meaning that any part of a day, was considered a whole day.

And so, yeah, Friday, Saturday, Sunday's day number three. These three things, delivered, killed, raised, and that last one, is going to happen on the third day.

Remember? And then all of a sudden, in verse 8, we see that the angel, has successfully jogged, the women's memory. They remembered his words.

And they are, so excited, by what their minds, can barely comprehend, that Luke tells us, they returned, from the tomb. I like how John describes it.

He says, they didn't just return, they actually ran. They ran, from the tomb, and they found the disciples, wherever they were, probably locked up, in the upper room somewhere.

And they burst in, and they've got this amazing news, verse 9, we're told that they, told all these things, to the apostles, which actually, in the Greek, is the imperfect tense, which means, they were telling, I'm not trying to stereotype, have you ever been around, a group of very excited women, who wanted to talk?

Guys, we're no better, we're maybe worse. We're told, that they were telling, these things, I'm sure, these women, were talking over each other.

No, you forgot about that, what about this? Then this happened. And what's the reaction, of these godly, mature disciples? They think they're crazy.

Verse 11, their words, seemed to them, an idle tale, and they did not, believe them. They're like, this is absurd, ladies. This is, this is idle talk.

They are completely, incredulous, unable to comprehend, or believe the story, that the women, are trying to tell them. But at least, one of these guys, actually two, is curious.

It's Peter, and he's going to be followed, by the younger, fleeter footed, guy John. Because what he does, and we read about it, in verse 12, is he decides, you know, I've got doubts, but I've also got some doubts, about my doubts.

Ever been there? Like, I'm sure, I couldn't have happened, but I just need to be sure. And so what he does, in verse 12, we're told that he gets up, and he, runs to the tomb.

And again, John, you know, John's pretty humble, throughout his gospel. He doesn't really name himself, but there's like the one time, that he's like, yeah, we raced, I was faster, we're just going to put that in, the gospel, for the whole church, for you know, thousands of years to know.

John gets there first, but he doesn't have the courage, to go in. That's Peter, bold Peter. Verse 12, we're told that he, stoops, and looks in, and what does he see?

He sees the linen cloths, by themselves, all nicely folded up, by the way, that's a detail, that John gives us. And we're told, that he went home, marveling, at what had happened.

Marveling. You see, nobody steals a corpse, and strips it, and folds up the clothes, and puts them on the shelf. It's, almost looking as though, like, I don't know, the one wearing the clothes, these extra grave clothes, did it,

that he wrapped up, the death shroud, and the linen cloths, and folded them up nice.

And as for Peter's reaction here, this marveling, what is this? Well, marveling, is better than doubt. It's better than disbelief. That's where he was before.

It's better than confusion, or sheer bewilderment. He's at least at wonder. He's at amazement. He's at least trying to understand, what's happened.

But he's not quite there. He's not at full faith. And he's not yet rejoicing. But that will soon change. For as Luke goes on, in verse 13, after we stopped reading, the story goes on.

He records a certain experience, of two men, two other disciples, from a nearby village, called Emmaus. And we read about how, they are walking back, from Jerusalem, on this day Sunday.

And they pick up, a traveling companion. They're very gloomy, very sad. And we're told that they talk, about the events that happened, with this mysterious person, whom they take home to Emmaus, and who sits at their table.

And then they're going to, share a meal with him. And he prays, and breaks the bread. And miraculously, their eyes are opened. And they see, it's Jesus.

And what do these two, Emmaus disciples do? Sit back in their chair, after Jesus disappears, and say, well that was cool. Maybe for a second.

But we're told that they, that very night, make their way, all the way back to Jerusalem. Again, the text doesn't say they run, but they probably were, at least double timing it.

And they bust in, and tell the rest of the disciples, and it's here, that we learn, that in the meantime, Peter himself, marveling as he was, he too, gets a resurrection appearance.

Here's what we read, in Luke 24, verse 33, and 34. And they, these are the Emmaus disciples, rose that same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven, and those who were with them, gathered together, and what were they all saying?

Luke 24:33

They were saying, the Lord has indeed risen. They're like, we know, we saw him. And they mention, he's appeared already to Simon.

Simon Peter himself.

Today we get to commemorate, another anniversary. An anniversary, of this most remarkable, world changing, life giving moment, in the history, of the church.

This is the event, that birthed the church. And I want us to focus, on just one aspect today. One aspect, and that is the responses. The responses, in how various people, react, to this resurrection event.

Because this resurrection, listen, it's more than just, a resuscitation. It's more than just, a resurrection, if that weren't enough. This resurrection, means, the culmination, of our salvation, one at the cross.

It is finished, Jesus said, as he died. And now, with this resurrection, what's God done? He has added, his divine exclamation point. Because, by it, the Father was saying, I accept.

I accept, this atonement. I, the Father, accept, this once for all, perfect, single sacrifice, for sins. That's how the book of Hebrews, describes it.

So, today, I want to highlight, the responses. And I want to, focus on three different, responses with you, that we see here. Three different, responses from, three different groups.

We'll start, with the first group. And honestly, the first group, is really hardly, a part of our story. The first group, is this one. First group, are the ones, who aren't even looking.

The ones, who aren't even looking.

Where, we might ask, are the disciples. Where are these, brave followers, of Christ, who want to sit, at his right hand, and his left? Who cut off, ears of the high priest, servant, who comes to arrest Jesus?

Where, where are they? Where are they, as dawn breaks, on Sunday morning? Are, are they, are they with the women? You know, they say, in the ancient world, probably true today, it's not always safe, for women to travel, alone in the dark.

But that's exactly, what they've done. They've traveled, to the tomb, in the dark. Are the men with them? Ready, to use their, manly strength, to help them, move the stone?

No. Are, are they back, in the upper room, making plans, you know, like a master plan, of evangelism, to share the gospel, with the world, once the good news, goes public, because they, in faith, are believing, and expecting, that Jesus is going to do, what he told them, he's going to do, rise again.

Nope. They're not there, they're not doing that. Were they even, at the foot of the cross, comforting, those brave women? Not there, well, I guess, again, maybe one was, John.

He was nearby, is what we're told. Well, the fact of the matter is, the last time, anybody saw, all these, eleven now disciples, together, in one place, here's what happened, in Matthew 26.

Matthew 26, verse 56, what happened? Oh, that's right, then all the disciples, left him, and fled.

Matthew 26:56

They weren't looking, because they were, too busy hiding, occupied, with other concerns, like saving their own skin. Now, I think it's easy, to beat up on the disciples, I'm pretty sure, I wouldn't have been, any different.

But sadly, I think that, that response, might still characterize, some people today. Are they, trusting in a risen Savior? No. As a matter of fact, a lot of people today, that we know, aren't even looking for him.

Instead, maybe they're occupied, in the shadowy things, of the world, that will leave them alone, and let them be, that won't create, any risk, in their lives, or demand anything, from them, and they're, without Jesus.

And they aren't, even looking for him. Maybe, some, maybe hide out, in another expression, of a different faith. Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Mormonism, I call that, a different faith, by the way.

Others, are just hiding out, in a, a different faith, from even any of those, I just mentioned. Maybe the religion, of say, materialism, the religion, of money, the religion, of power, of success, and achievement, in life.

You know, it's funny, but by the time, this group, finally meets, the risen Jesus, which is, later that night, he's, he's going to appear, Sunday night, in the upper room.

It's not a good look. Here's, here's how it happens, in John chapter 20, verse 19. We read this, on evening of that day, this is Easter, this is resurrection day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came, and stood among them,

John 20:19

and said to them, peace be with you. This is where he, miraculously materializes, appears. This is a beautiful thing, too, that even when we, sometimes aren't looking, for him, or are maybe, kind of hiding out, somewhere, somehow, Jesus still comes,

and finds us. Maybe that's one of us, here this morning. I don't know where, where you are, in your faith life, faith walk. I don't know why you're here.

I know why some of you are here. I don't know why all of you are here. Maybe you're sitting there saying, I don't know why I'm here. But as you're, hearing this story told, as you're listening, to this amazing story, of the first Easter, where God's one and only son, paid the ultimate price, and thereby,

secured the chance, for you to be saved, by having your sins forgiven. Maybe he's startling you, with an offer of peace.

Because you know what? If you accept him, and what he offers you, if you step out in faith, the faith that we need, to believe in him, to trust in his work, this is actually, what he brings.

Peace. Peace with God. That's one group, here this morning. Or I should say again, actually not really here. Because these aren't, the main characters, of our account, are they?

No, that's the second group. Group number two, is this. Group number two, are the ones, who are looking. They are looking. But looking wrongly.

They are looking, but looking wrongly. And of course, this group is our women. Now before we miss the obvious, again, let's give some credit, where credit is due, at least they're looking.

At least the women, are not hiding in the shadows. They're at the foot of the cross. They're up early, before the crack of dawn, and at the scene, of the empty tomb, to be the first witnesses.

They're drawn to Jesus. They want to get to Jesus. They're looking, but they're looking wrongly. And what I mean is, they're looking wrongly, in really two distinct ways.

Letter A, they're looking for the wrong things. And B, they're looking in the wrong places. For the wrong things. In the wrong places. Let me start with the wrong things, because this one's really pretty easy.

They're looking for a corpse. They're looking for a dead body, aren't they? They're trying to find, trying to get to that body, that they watched, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, carefully take down from the cross, and wrap up, with all the burial spices.

They are looking for an inanimate body, of the man they loved. So they can honor him, with more spices, and more anointment. That's not what they should have been looking for.

Something inanimate. They should have been looking for, the person who was very much animate. Alive. Alive and well, in his resurrected form.

That's why the angels say, don't you remember? Don't you remember, what you're supposed to be looking for? Who you're supposed to be looking for?

He told you. Let me ask you, do you know people, who are looking for the wrong things? Or, or let's be fair, maybe just the wrong form, of Jesus.

They are kind of looking for Jesus, but not the right form. The women were looking for the dead form, not the living form. Today, sometimes people look for the wrong form, of Jesus, when they're looking only for the wise, sagely teacher, Jesus.

Right? Or, or others, or, when they get into some kind of a crisis, a physical crisis, themselves, someone else, they're looking for the miracle working, Jesus.

That's the one I want.

Some like Jesus's ways, his example, or they want his help, in some form of deliverance, or rescue, or healing, but they aren't looking for, much less embracing, the person, of the resurrected Jesus, who had to die for them, in their place, for their sins,

to save their very souls. So, yeah, some look wrongly, by looking for the wrong things, but you know what? Others still look in the wrong places.

And this is, this is where, you look at the women, and you look, where they are. They're at the tomb, they're looking for Jesus, and this is the humor of the story, where the angels are like, why are you here?

Why are you looking for the living, here? What is it they say again? Verse five, verse five, why do you seek the living, among the dead? Why do you seek life, among things associated with, death?

Death. This temporary physical world, we live in, listen guys, it's decaying. It's a slow decay, but Paul says that, over in Romans. He says, ever since the fall, he says, the whole creation, has been in bondage, to decay.

Don't look, for life, among what's dead, and decaying. Look, beyond. Look, beyond the sheer, physical creation. What I mean is, human ideas, are not going to save you.

Not even the best arguments, are going to save anybody. These sometimes, offer some help, but ultimately, you have to look, heavenward, with your eyes, to find your savior, and you have to look, in faith.

You have to look, at the source of life, to truly find life.

Remember, some are looking, they're seeking, but they're looking, for the wrong things, and sometimes, looking in the wrong places. So that's two groups, we still have one left.

And our story's not done, without considering, this third group, and this third group, is a pretty small group, it's a group, of just three.

Third group, is this one, the ones who are looking, but without, eyes of faith. Group number three, are the ones, who are looking, but without, the eyes, of faith.

faith.

Sometimes, they're looking, right at something, that should tell them, a lot, but without, the eyes of faith, they aren't seeing, what they should see.

So first up, we have Peter, of course, he's the first member, of this group of three. Peter, what does he do? He hears the reports, from the ladies, doesn't believe them, doesn't have faith, for that, but that doesn't stop him, at least give him, a little bit of credit, it doesn't stop him, and then again, with John,

tagging along, outrunning him, it doesn't stop him, from running, to investigate, for himself, to see, first hand, that's what he does, in verse 12, he rises, runs to the tomb, and then we're told, that he stoops, and looks in, he investigates, fully,

and what's he see? He sees number one, a stone removed, like the lady said, he sees number two, an empty tomb, Jesus is not there, and finally, he sees number three, all the cloths, the linen cloths, folded up nicely, as John's account tells us, along with the head shroud,

I'd say that's, seeing something, that's a whole lot more, than I've ever seen, he's looking, right at it, but all he can do, is go home, in a state of marveling, he goes home marveling, in wonder, in amazement, at what he's seen,

but it stops, short of faith, it stops short of faith, because he's, not looking at all, this evidence, at the scene, with the right eyes, not yet anyway, and again, it will take an appearance, from the risen Jesus himself, to get those eyes,

and funny enough, that's where the other two members, of our group of three, come in, and that would be, these Emmaus Road disciples, who are talked about, later in the chapter, we didn't take the time, to read that whole story, it's kind of enough of itself, but let me just tell you, that they,

they walked along the road, they talked with Jesus, they talked about Jesus, with Jesus, and didn't recognize Jesus, now I've walked with people, and talked with them, but I mean, I think at some point, you're looking at the guy, and surely it's supernatural, they didn't get the advantage,

of being at the tomb, stooping down, to look in, see the empty tomb, and see the grave close, but, they had a little better than that, they had the actual Jesus, staring them in the face, on a seven mile walk, they sat down at table, and were getting ready, to have something to eat with him,

and they still couldn't recognize him, and the reason why, is they needed the eyes of faith, for that, and I often think about those of us, who are around all the things, of the faith, what I would describe, as all the evidences, that so many of you are,

that Jesus changes lives, I'm talking about other believers, there are people, who are around the church, they're around, the things of God, but they lack one thing, they lack those eyes, the eyes of faith, is that you, is that someone,

that you know and love, remember, you have a front row seat, to all the evidences, of the resurrected life, it's in all the believers, around you, are you still lacking, the eyes of faith, faith, to get those eyes,

we need to come to him, we need to humble ourselves, and we need to ask, and we need him, to come to us, in power, and the good news is, the great news is, is that he's doing that, an image from Revelation, he stands at the door,

and knocks, will you open, your life to him, and will you allow him, to give you, the eyes, of faith, that's my prayer, for you this Easter, and if you stand with me, we can pray together,

the team's going to come, and lead us, in a closing song, and as we pray, I just want to say, if there's anyone here, that is interested, in coming to Jesus, to receive his peace, I would love nothing more, than to have myself, or someone else,

pray with you, you can come right on down front, I'll stick around, Matt will be here, we would love nothing more, on a day like today, than to introduce you, to the man, who saves you, Jesus, we thank you, for what you've done, what you went through, this is a day,

where we commemorate, what would otherwise be, a pretty horrific event, what you went through, enduring, the punishment, taking upon yourself, the stripes, that we deserved, taking upon yourself, the holy wrath, of the father, against all our sins,

Lord, to be that perfect lamb, to be sacrificed, we praise you, and thank you, for your obedience, your humility, your submission, to the father's plan, and Lord, we want what you want, we want more, and more, of the people, of this world,

to come to know you, in faith, to become, followers of Jesus, and to have their lives, transformed, loved, and so Jesus, we ask you to draw, as only you can, by your Holy Spirit, let your spirit, draw the one, who doesn't know you, and Lord,

for many others, of us who are, here right now, Lord, this is a day, of celebration, and commemoration, at what you've done, Jesus, we love you, we thank you, and we praise you, and we pray, all these things, on this Easter Sunday, in your name, amen.