Rejoice! He Is Risen
"Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen." — Luke 24:5–6
📜 "And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee."
👑The Tale of Two Kings
In the late nineteenth century, T. DeWitt Talmage moved the hearts of thousands with his vivid illustrations and unwavering confidence in the Word of God. One of his most striking Easter messages centered on a fascinating historical account involving England’s King Edward I, known as "Longshanks."
Edward I died in 1307. When his tomb in Westminster Abbey was opened in 1774—nearly 500 years later—the observers were stunned. His body was remarkably preserved, wrapped in waxed linen and royal robes of red and gold. On his head sat a gilt crown, and in his hands lay a sceptre.
As Talmage noted, the sight was awe-inspiring. A king, centuries dead, still bore the trappings of his earthly majesty. But there was a profound and somber limitation to this preservation: Edward was still dead. The crown sat upon a brow that could no longer think; the sceptre was held by hands that could no longer rule. He remained a prisoner of the tomb, a monument to a glory that had long since passed into the silence of the earth.
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When we look into the grave of Christ, we see not only a crown, but on His head are many crowns. And more than that—He has risen!
— T. DEWITT TALMAGE
⚡ The Power of an Empty Tomb
The contrast Talmage drew is the heart of the Easter message. While the world may preserve the memory of its great leaders in marble and gold, the Kingdom of Heaven offers something radically different: An empty tomb.
🎯 The Fulfillment
Jesus didn't just happen to rise; He rose exactly as He sowed. It was the fulfillment of prophecy and His own word.
✅ The Declaration
The resurrection is the ultimate stamp of approval from the Father, declaring that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
On that first Easter morning, the women approached the sepulcher with heavy hearts. They were perplexed. They were grieving. They expected to find the cold, silent body of their beloved Teacher. They brought spices for embalming, preparing for the finality of decay.
💡 Key Perspective: They were looking for the "living among the dead." Many today still do the same, looking for hope in dead philosophies, dead rituals, or dead ambitions. But hope is not found in the cemetery of human achievement; it is found in the Resurrected Lord.
The angelic question, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" is a gentle rebuke that echoes through the ages. It reminds us that our Savior is not a historical figure to be studied, but a Living Presence to be known. Because He lives, the sorrow of the "women at the tomb" is transformed into the rejoicing of the "messengers of the Gospel."
📌 The Easter Transformation
- 1Death was Defeated: The grave could not hold the Author of Life.
- 2Sorrow was Overcome: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes with the Resurrection morning.
- 3Hope was Restored: Despair has no place in the heart of one who serves a living Savior.
Edward I still lies in Westminster, his crown a reminder of a reign that ended seven centuries ago. But Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. His reign is expanding, His kingdom is eternal, and His life flows into every believer.
This is the news that changes everything. It changes how we face our fears, how we handle our losses, and how we view our future. We do not serve a memory; we serve a Master. We do not follow a ghost; we follow a King.
Today's Growth Principle
"Rejoice today in the wonderful news—Christ is risen, and He reigns forever."
~ Paul Chappell
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