During Holy Week, as I read and heard the Scriptures of Jesus’s resurrection throughout the week, one phrase stood out to me again and again: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5) A profound question from profound beings to puzzled women.

I’ve always loved the story of the women going to the tomb. They went to preserve the dead. They left preaching the living Christ.

I also love Easter. And one thing I love about Easter is that the older I get, the more I love it. I think that’s because, each year, I get a greater glimpse of just how heaven-and-earth-changing Jesus’s resurrection is.

I also really enjoy being a pastor on Easter. It’s by far one of the most exhausting days of the year for me, even as an Associate Pastor who doesn’t have to preach. But I love being a pastor on Easter because Easter is why I do what I do. If Jesus had rotted in a grave, then forget everything else about Christianity. As my senior pastor preached on Easter Sunday, the resurrection is the lynchpin that holds everything about our faith together.

One thing I’ve learned though, is that a lot of life looks more like Good Friday. There’s a lot of days and situations where it seems like Death in all its forms has won. As a pastor and as a Christian, I believe it’s my (and our) responsibility to live as Easter people in a Good Friday world.

Unfortunately, I think we often don’t do that.

I think we spend a lot of time looking for the living among the dead.

As I’ve been contemplating that question—Why do you look for the living among the dead?—I’ve thought about all the ways we do that 2000 years later.

Why are we looking for validation among our careers?
Why are we looking for our identity among extracurricular activities?
Why are we looking for a Savior among politics?
Why are we looking for justice among political institutions?
Why are we looking for shelter among money?
Why are we looking for peace among pills?
Why are we looking for hope among technology?
Why are we looking for joy among our sports teams?
Why are we looking for love among online videos?

Christians and non-Christians alike go to all these things and more looking for the things that only Christ can give. As I write that list, I’m convicted of the ways I look for the living among the dead.

Why do we go looking for the living among the dead?

I think it’s because following Jesus is a long, slow process of surrender. On the other hand, following money or success or politics or love gives you short-term results and a semblance of control.

If you work overtime at work, you get more money.
If you vote for a candidate, you have control over the future of the nation.
If you practice hard, you make the team.
If you take the pill, reality disappears.

But with Jesus, things take time. You can’t just do a quick Google search of Jesus and instantly be filled with peace, justice, joy, and love. Transformation from Jesus often takes time and takes us surrendering control to Him.

But if we do that, we’ll get the identity, hope, security, validation, and more we were looking for. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 (NLT), “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

None of those things—politics, jobs, sports, medication, money, etc.—are bad in and of themselves. But when they’re sought out “above all else,” then they become a god, an idol, a distraction from the Living God.

The irony is that none of them actually give us the things they promise to give us. Involvement in politics doesn’t give us the control we were hoping for. Online images and videos don’t give us the love we desire. New technology doesn’t give us hope for a better tomorrow.

But Jesus does.

So go looking for the Living where the living is. Go be with the people of God to find the presence of God. Set aside just a few minutes a day to be with Jesus.

Stop looking for the Living among the dead. He is not there. He is risen.

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Want to read more of my blog posts? Check them out below!

• Why Do We Celebrate Advent?
• Methodism and the Ministry of Compassion
• Why Acceptance is Key to Spiritual Growth
• Keeping the Connection: Upholding Polity in the Global Methodist Church
• Energy Management vs. Time Management

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