He Is Not Here

Luke 24:1-7

In Egyptian mythology, Osiris was killed by his brother Set. Set cut his body in pieces and scattered them. His wife Isis found all the pieces. She then wrapped him up like a mummy and he was able to come back to life. I'm so glad that Jesus was not dependent upon any person to raise Him from the dead. Even though Jesus told them many times what would happen, His disciples were just as surprised as anyone else that the tomb was open and His body was gone. He was not there, He has Risen!

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Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

Luke 24:1-7

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God's plan of salvation required a blood sacrifice for sin. The lamb had to be without imperfection. Sin had marred us all, so no man could be the sacrifice. God knew this and became a man Himself. Remember, Jesus said "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). It was Jesus's death on the cross that offered payment for our sins. But, what good is a dead God?

Jesus did not stay in the tomb! He rose again after 3 days and then ascended to Heaven. This too was part of His salvation work. Yes, He died in our place, but He rose again so that we too could have a resurrection. Paul wrote, "For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead" (I Corinthians 15:21). Death is not the end for the Child of God (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). He will take us to Heaven and give us a new body that is sinless and will never experience death again (I Corinthians 15:42).

Jesus's ascension into Heaven was also for us. It was more than Him simply going home. He is in Heaven, serving as our High Priest. He offered His blood as payment for our sins and now he intercedes on our behalf to the Father. The writer of Hebrews said, "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). When we pray, our prayers go through the Holy Spirt, through Jesus, to the Father. It is because of His work on the cross that we even have access to the Father.

I recently lost my cool with one of my students. I was upset that he disrespected me, and when I let it get under my skin I became guilty of doing the very thing I was angry at him about. I had to apologize to the student, but there was a far greater issue at hand. In my anger, I did not reveal Jesus to him. I sinned against God. I prayed for God to forgive me. It was the Holy Spirit of God that revealed to me that I had sinned and needed to ask forgiveness. When I prayed, my prayer went to Jesus. He then took that prayer to God the Father. His blood had already covered the sin, and my prayer of forgiveness was about restoring the relationship that had been strained by the sin.

Father, thank you for your plan of salvation. Yes, we are grateful for Jesus death on the cross, but we are equally grateful for his resurrection and ascension into Heaven. We thank you that we have an advocate and a High Priest. May we never forget, so that we always live for you, and share this loving message with others.