Seeking Among the Dead

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus was speaking of the Temple of His body.

Today we celebrate this as we do on every sunday.

But today we celebrate the victory over death.

The Resurrection.

In we read of a account of a man who had died, a close friend to Jesus had died.

In fact he had been dead for a few days and had begun to stink.

In this story we see the shortest verse in the Bible.

Whenever we encounter death it always brings about sadness and grieving. Jesus was no exception.

John 11:11–27 ESV

After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

verse

21-

John 11:21 ESV

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

John 11:23 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

John 11:24 ESV

Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Look at Jesus response to Martha here in the next verse.

John 11:25 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

The next verse is one of the most critical important verses of all of scripture for everyone hearing this.

John 11:26 ESV

and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:28–37 ESV

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

Mary has a few words for Jesus, in verse 32,

Lord if you had only been here,

How many times have we said the same statement?

Lordd if you had only been here?

This would not have happened, or that would not have happened.

Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died!

In verse 35 we see the shortest verse, Jesus wept.

in verse 36 some of the Jews said, see how he loved him.

Now we see other people begin to question Jesus in verse 37

These people were upset, Why wasnt Jesus here when we needed Him?

John 11:37 ESV

But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

Now in the following verses we the Power of Jesus,

38-

John 11:38–44 ESV

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Though Lazarus had died, Jesus said in verse 25

John 11:25 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Though we will all face a physical death, we will all also face a resurrection.

A Resurrection of eternal life

A resurrection of judgement.

The Bible is very clear on this.

John 5:29 ESV

and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

45-

Matthew 27:45–56 ESV

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

57-

Matthew 27:57–61 ESV

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

62-

Matthew 27:62–66 ESV

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

John 20:1–10 ESV

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

The disciples went back to their homes, but Mary, what did she do?

11-

John 20:11–18 ESV

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Luke 24:1–12 ESV

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 when 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.

Luke 24:5 ESV

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?

They were frightened

they bowed their faces toward the ground

then, the men said to them,

Why do you seek the living among the dead?

The women were seeking to honor a dead savior,

Their thoughts, feelings and behavior were all centered around a dead savior,

They were living just as the world lives,

without promise, without hope and without God.

Ephesians 2:12 ESV

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Jesue was not found among the dead, just as he is not found among the dead of today either.

If a person is living in the world just as the world lives, Christ will not be found their.

Christ will not be found among dead sinners. But He will be found among living saints.

He will be found among the churches of the living God.

Nor will life be found among the dead works of the law or of the letter of the law.

Yest so many people seek hope from the world,

So many seek joy from the world,

Yet on this day, Easter we celebrate how many will make it to church for this day of celebration of the resurrection and yet leave the church to return right home and live as thought Christ is dead!

Why do so many seek the living among the dead?

For if one is a believer, Christ is alive and living in them,

If a person is placing their assurance of salvation on any thing they may do, I question their salvation at all.

Ones assurance of ones salvation can only be due to the death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

In verse 6 we see two important facts.

Luke 24:6 ESV

He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,

He is not here.

He has risen!

He’s alive!!!!

Remember how He told you,

Luke 24:7–8 ESV

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,

Luke 24:36 ESV

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”

36-4

Luke 24:36–49 ESV

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Peace to you,

This was a customary greeting in those days,

But here it was of special meaning now at this time,

Only true peace can come from the Risen Lord.

John 14:27 ESV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

The world dosent have this peace available to give to anyone!

Luke 24:37–38 ESV

But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

in verse 38, why are you troubled? why do doubts arise in your heaarts?

To this very day, doubts arise in the hearts of so many,

This is why people will come to church and celebrate Resurrection day, Hes alive and then leave and live as thought He was dead.

Luke 24:39–41 ESV

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

Jesus loves to eat!

But this verse shows us something here,

A spirit can not eat!

different cults will tell you he arose spirtually.

A Spirit cant eat.

Luke 24:42–43 ESV

They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Luke 24:44 ESV

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

verse 45 is one of those verses to memorise.

Luke 24:45 ESV

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

He opened their minds

To understand the scriptures.

He can do this you know, how? He’s alive!

Luke 24:46 ESV

and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

Luke 24:47 ESV

and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Luke 24:48–49 ESV

You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

We are to be a wittnes to these things, but we are to have power, not a power we can get from a energy drink, but rather power from the Father, the same power that raised Jesus from the grave is the same power that the Father will send upon you.

In fact, Jesus tells us to stay put until you are clothed from on high!

John 3:16–17 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

No matter where you are right now, no matter what a person may have done, no matter the sin that one may be entangled in, know this.

Jesus isn't judging you, He didn't come into this world to judge you, He came to save you from the Father wrath.

John 3:16–17 ESV

Maybe you are tired of working so hard to do this or that.

Maybe you are tired of doing this or that,

all the while trying to get to Jesus, dont be trapped in the do’s and don’ts. Come to Jesus and let Him take caree of the do’s and don’ts.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Know this, Jesus died on the cross, he took your place of dying for your sins, He went to the grave and defeated death by rising on the third day.

All of this He did for you!

Do you believe this?

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