Today marks the beginning of April, and we are well into the season of Spring. Spring when everything comes back to life, there is resurrection and new life all around us!
Just a few days ago, we gathered together and most of us probably read the story of Jesus’ resurrection from the gospel of Luke. Here we heard of the women going to the tomb to finish the preparation of Jesus’ body, and the stone is rolled away and He is not there. Amazed, two “men” say to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Or “Why are you looking for Him here, when He told you He wasn’t staying long?”
Jesus told the disciples and all following Him all along, He would die and would rise again. Why did they not believe it?
Why do we not believe it?
Where are we looking for Jesus, that we won’t find Him?
Or where are we looking for a savior where He will not be?
What we know about our savior and this passage helps us remember where Jesus is and what He will do for us.
All things we give up will be replaced.
Did you give up something for Lent? And it was hard at first, but then you made it through to Easter and all was good. You realized you could live with out chocolate, soda, meat, or what ever it was. God gave you the strength to persevere and make it through. What else are you holding onto in life that you could give up to God and have Him replace it for something even better? Where are you looking that could be reformed?
We can always be reborn!
Being a born again christian is not something we Lutherans talk a lot about. But being born anew is something that Martin Luther said happened everyday when we wash our face and remember our baptism. We remember the love that God has for us, and that death and separation from Him through sin are only a confession away. And in that we are reborn and made anew in His image. Our gracious God gives us a new beginning every day! What are we holding onto that is keeping us from the life God intended for us? Where are we looking to find hope, when it is releasing our sins and looking to Him?
What is lost can be found!
We have all wandered off like the sheep, or rolled away like the coin, or walked away from the family like the younger brother. But Jesus never gives up looking for us. He never stops looking for those who wander away. He is always searching for the lost. Even when it gets dark and lonely, God will not give up. Nothing will separate us from the loving kindness of God. He will continually look for us. Where have we wandered to look for hope? Maybe we should turn around and realize God has been searching for us.
The women go looking in the tomb. The disciples come running, to find an empty hole. We look for Jesus where we expect Him, or where our fears, stresses, guilt and shame tell us to.
Where are you looking for Jesus?
Is He there?
aSacredRebel 