Why Do You Look for the Living Among the Dead?
Everything Changes
I wonder when the disciples realized the significance of communion. I wonder when they finally put it all together, this symbolic feast, that Christ instituted in their last few hours together. He spoke words that had significance and meaning, yet made no sense. He spoke of things that terrified them, yet told them to be at peace. He held up bread and wine, which already had significance and meaning to them as Jews on Passover, and said, “This means something different now…something better.”
…this bread…my body…broken for you…
…this cup…my blood…poured out for you…
And every time you partake of these things…you proclaim His death…until He comes.
I envision the disciples, the followers, those who loved Jesus, sitting together in the Upper Room. I wonder if they could even grasp what was going to happen…nothing would ever be the same here in a few hours. No one would ever be the same. Everything changes.
Do you know those moments? Those significant moment that you just –KNOW- …it is all different from here on out…for better or for worse…nothing will ever be the same…
After His death they were together, not knowing what to do or say, as nothing will ever be the same again. I can imagine them emotionally beating themselves up…
“I should have done this…”
“I should have been there…”
“I promised I would, but..”
“I swore I would never, but…”
Each of them looking around the room, thinking about the last time He was alive; all of the things He did and said. Yet, perhaps the last thing they would have even considered doing was partaking in this new feast He had instituted for them.
“…for every time you partake of these symbols…you proclaim my death…”
The last thing they wanted to do was proclaim His death. They had lost more than just a friend and a master; they have lost their own lives! They LEFT EVERYTHING to follow Him…their families, their careers, their homes and livelihoods; they just walked away from it all because He promised He was doing something brand new. And now they had nothing. All of their hopes for what Jesus was to be and what they were to do because of Him died when Jesus breathed His last; they were buried with Him in that tomb. They lost EVERYTHING.
But that was Saturday. And on Sunday, EVERYTHING CHANGES!
The women could not leave Him there in the tomb without a proper burial. In haste He had been placed in that tomb; because of Sabbath and the time of Jesus’ death, they had not been able to bury Him properly. They walked with purpose to the garden where His tomb was located, but as they stepped in, they could feel the weight of sorrow. They hung their heads silently as they made their way to His tomb.
As they approach the tomb, they realize that something is just not right. The stone has been rolled away. They rush to the entrance and realize the worst. Jesus’ body is gone. Desperately, they search the area, but they cannot find Him. And that was the final straw. Jesus had been murdered in the cruelest fashion, and they did not even get the chance to properly bury and mourn Him. I imagine them huddled together, overwhelmingly weeping, when from out of nowhere two “men” appeared next to them.
In fear, they bowed their faces to the ground. They were dazzling, like nothing they had ever seen before. But it was their question that changed their focus from that which was physical to that which was spiritual.
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen, like He said He would…”
And they remembered.
Everything changes.
Why do you look for the living among the dead?
That very question changes my focus too. Why do you look for the living among the dead?
Why do you search to find your life and purpose among things that are dead or dying? Things like other people and relationships with them? Jobs? Callings? Activities? Hobbies? Thoughts and ideas of this world? Not bad things themselves, but when we seek to find our existence, our purpose, a full life through these things alone, are we not seeking to find life in things that are dead? Are we not looking for life in the ashes…among the grave markers…inside the tombs?
Where are you seeking real life? Because we are all seeking purpose and life, but are you doing so in the cemetery?
Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, the LIFE…I have come so that they may have LIFE and have it to the full…” Life is found only in and through Christ Jesus our Lord! He is the ONLY ONE who can crush death…who can defeat it by COMING BACK TO LIFE!
And so, we find ourselves each first day of the week, proclaim His death, by taking part in a feast of symbols…His broken body…His spilled blood…because in His death we find life everlasting. His death means nothing if not for the resurrection! It is our HOPE! I will take these symbols and proclaim His death that was crushed by His resurrection so that I may have life and have it to the full.
But there is more. When we take these symbols, we not only proclaim His death…we declare ours too. Death to our old way of things…of living and thinking. Death to seeking life among things that are dead and dying. When we takes these, we are reminded that we have chosen to find purpose and life in Christ ALONE.
So proclaim today, AND EVERY DAY, His death…celebrate today, AND EVERY DAY, His victorious resurrection. But do so remembering that in proclaiming His death, you are declaring yours too, and doing so with the glorious HOPE of finding REAL LIFE, through Christ.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in my body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me!” Galatians 2:20
Everything changes! Worthy is the Lamb indeed!