FOUND NOT THE BODY
Luke 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 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? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet 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. 8 And they remembered his words,
The location of all the bodies of all former sacrifices was always known! And they had to be dealt with after the sacrificial blood was properly used. Heb. 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
But the body of the Lord Jesus was not to be destroyed in such fashion because he had made a full and complete atonement with his sacrifice! Heb. 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hence all true believers are drawn in their bodily form to the exalted, living Savior, presently reigning in his glorified body in the heavens! Heb. 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
For it is his bodily resurrection seen by the sight of faith that gives all the elect of God their encouragement to persevere throughout all their trials and afflictions, in this present life! Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Why could they not find him? They could not find him simply because they were looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place. They were looking for the dead, and he was living! And they were looking in a grave site, but he was risen! Listen how Matthew states this: Matt. 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. Dear soul, it was the complete end of the Jewish sabbath and all its corresponding law! And it was the dawning of the new day, the first day of the Christian realm! 1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
And these women, still bound under the law’s influences were looking for a dead body to anoint, just like those of todays religions who seek to be justified by the works of their own religious righteousness! Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
His resurrection answers to the laws inability to save one single soul from one single sin! Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: This “sinful” man, here in Romans 8:3, alone attends that “wretched man” there in Romans 7:24! For we cannot stand before the Holy God without the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ! Our sin had to be first imputed unto him for his cleansing of them on his cross in order for his righteousness to be made ours! 2 Corin. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
We are now to present our very bodies as ever living sacrificial beings until such time as he shall change them into the likeness of his glorious body! Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Phil. 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Pastor Gene Breed.