He is Risen Indeed!……….so now what?
The Triumphal Entry, Passion Week, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday have come and gone.
So now what?
Here is what I fear is going to happen (because it happens every year after every major religious event/holiday): We are back to business as usual, orderly worship services, and regularly scheduled programming. In other words, we’re back to carrying around our burial spices.
Luke 23:55 – 24:1 55As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed.56Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.1But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
Jesus’ closest friends and followers were convinced His body would still be there. The ride was fun, if not tiring and sometimes stressful, but it was all over and they were back to figuring out how to do life. Once the nasty business of tomb work was done, it was going to be a week of figuring out the new normal.
We know what happens (if you don’t, keep reading in Luke!!)… Burial spices are thrown aside and the only message that rings through is joy. The ride isn’t over! In fact, it was just beginning! From that moment on Scripture gives us continued reminders that everything that Jesus taught was finally fully understood by His disciples.
The Resurrection changed EVERYTHING. Behaviors were changed. Words were changed. Routines were no longer routine. Every day became Sunday, a day of worship and sharing.
Has it changed everything for us? Or are we continually carrying around burial spices for a Savior who was a great teacher, with great suggestions, but ultimately we want to remain in the tomb? When He is in the tomb we can continue on our own paths, with our own agenda. When the tomb is empty, His agenda reigns.
Drop those spices. The only message that matters still is this: He is Risen.
Luke 24: 2 – 10 2They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.3So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.4As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes
5The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?6He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee,7that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
8Then they remembered that he had said this.9So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened.10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. (NLT, emphasis added)