Why Do You Seek The Living Among The Dead?

“They said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:5b -6a NKJV)
The central message of Easter is the resurrection. It comes with celebration. Why do we celebrate? We celebrate because, Jesus is Alive. What do we celebrate? We celebrate hope not just today but everyday because we know that because Jesus lives we can live also. Hope is alive because of Jesus.  His life, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection provide hope for today as well as for eternity.
Hope is a vital element that is missing in our generation. Making out time to listen to the news on the radio or television, or read a paper, we will quickly realize that a  vital element missing from the picture is hope. Our world is plagued with terror. War and threats of war are everywhere. Bombs are detonated indiscriminately.
Many of us continue to ask questions we do have answers to and do not know when the answers will come. We ask these diverse questions to clarify if there is hope for good or better days ahead. The women in the text above forgot about all the teachings of Jesus on His resurrection on the third day. In fact, when they discovered that the tomb was empty they never thought about His resurrection. Instead, they were perplexed. They were confused and disturbed until their encounter with the angels.
Many people today are not just sorry for the terrible state of our world because of many strange occurrences,  they are also confused and have lost hope. Some have lost hope on their future, some on their marriage which was once blissful and others on their business. To some, hope is a strange element because their children, family members or friends though alive, are more in dead conditions. It is to all the people in the world in these confused and disturbed states that God’s message is being sent today. What is the message? Do not seek for the living among the dead. This is the message of Easter and the foundation of Christianity. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ has changed many dead things to life and can do same in the life of as many people that are ready to hold on to this fact. Christ is indeed risen! And  by His resurrection, sorrow becomes joy, failure becomes success and life in abundance is gained.
Peter confirms this fact in his first general epistle. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you”. (I Peter 1:3, 4 NKJV)
Beloved, what else are we waiting for? Why remain in that position and situation characterized by hopelessness when Jesus has settled it already? Now is the time to tap into the power of His resurrection. Christ is risen! He is alive! He has all you and I need to remain alive forever. Surrender to the Lordship of Jesus today if you have not done so. Make Him your personal and intimate Friend and be His true disciple.
Have a victorious week as you tag on to the One who is for ever alive!

Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede