Why seek ye the living among the dead?

The first Easter morning was a morning of surprises. The women went to the tomb of Jesus to properly prepare Christ’s body according to their custom. They had followed Joseph and Nicodemus to the grave after the crucifixion planning to return and prepare the body. Because the next day was the Jewish Sabbath they rested, according to the Law. On the third day, the first day of the week, they got up early and went to the Sepulcher. According to Mark’s record in the 16th Chapter, they were discussing who would help them roll away the stone. It was a large stone and guarded and sealed to insure against any kind of trickery of the disciples to remove the body and claim a false resurrection.

I love Matthew’s record of what happened – The tomb was sealed. The soldiers were watching, and the Sanhedrin were watching the soldiers. Man was doing everything he could to prevent the resurrection. Satan’s servants were on the job with full assurance that they had won the victory. Suddenly, in Matthew 28:2 there was a great earthquake, and the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven. He came and rolled the stone away.

His face was like lightening and this clothing white as snow. Verse 4 declares “for fear of him, the keepers did shake and fell as dead men”. The Roman soldiers fainted. The Sanhedrin guards fainted.

They were the best that Rome had to offer – strong and fearless – perhaps the one who drove the nails, maybe the one who cracked the brutal whip, definitely those that had mocked Jesus as he submitted to their torture. All of Satan’s power fainted before the Messenger of God.

The devil always gives place to the Power of Gospel. No matter how strong the bondage. No matter how powerful his grip seems to be. No matter how securely sin is in command, when the light of Gospel comes in, the devil is powerless. (Romans 1:16). Step aside devil, the King is here.

The stone was rolled away. Not to let Jesus out, but for the world to see for time and eternity the tomb is empty.

You can’t find new life among the dead. He’s not

there – he’s alive. And when you fully understand what that means, you’ll rise with Him. He’ll lift you out of a boring life. He’ll lift you out of a tradition that binds you. He’ll lift you out of the prison of habit. He’ll take away your fear of death. He’ll lift you up above the shadows. The ministry of the Risen Christ is a ministry of deliverance.

What deliverance did Christ bring that first Easter weekend to the Spirits in Prison? That’s a secret that awaits the day when we stand around the throne of God. But we do know what he’s doing today. He’s still descending to those in prison. He’s still preaching deliverance to the captives. He’s still healing the broken hearted. He’s still comforting those that mourn. Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same.