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Easter Reflections: He is not here. He Is Risen!

Where do we look for Jesus?

In our quest to encounter the Lord of our lives, do we Christians flock to graveyards? That’s where the disciples went on Easter morning. But they heard some good news about expanding their search.

“He is not here. He is risen.” Those were words to the followers of Jesus on that first Easter morning. They had come to the tomb to finish the task of burying their friend and Lord Jesus. They had come to mourn. They thought that they would have to go to where his lifeless body lay if they wanted to see their Lord again. And yet their mourning turned to joy.

Because of the empty tomb, where do we look for Jesus?

I guess we should be clear that because of the empty tomb, we Christians aren’t afraid of graveyards. We actually have a columbarium as a part of our Memorial Garden at the church. And we often find comfort repeating the words of Jesus at the graveside. Jesus is the Lord of our lives, and all parts of our lives. But, we don’t have to limit our search to a cemetery to encounter our Lord.

We can find Jesus as we share the joy in a celebration of life; a wedding, a baptism, a birthday, a graduation. Jesus loved the joyful times of life.

We can find Jesus in the times of quiet solitude. As we are still and know that God is God, in mountains, at the beach, on the back porch at sunrise or sunset, we can remember that Jesus often craved the lonely place for prayer and reflection.

We can find Jesus wherever life leads us. That’s what it means to serve a living Lord.

“He is not here (at the tomb where his enemies tried to send Him). He is risen.” And our lives are to be lived with Him.

– Steve Negley

Prayer

Thank you God for showing us that in the risen Christ, life is full of promise. Help us to live each day hoping to encounter Jesus, our living Lord. Amen