Vain Searching
Luke 24:1-12 (NKJV)
1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still 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.
9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.
12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
Introduction:
· A lot of preaching in these 12 verses – we could talk about…
o The first day of the week – Sunday
o Early in the morning
o We could talk about the significance of the spices to anoint the body
o The stone; The sepulcher
o The two angels
o The THIRD day – the resurrection
o Remembering the Words of God
o Mary, Joanna, Mary, and the other women
o The doubting apostles
o Persistent, Perplexed, Pondering Peter ; Etc.
But I want to look at the last part of verse 5 and the first part of verse 6.
“…"Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but is risen…”
· There are places seekers after Jesus should not expect to find Him, however diligent may be their search, however sincere their desire.
· You cannot find a man were he is not, and there are some places where Christ never will be discovered.
1. Ceremonialism
A. Today there are many who are seeking Christ among the monuments of ceremonialism.
B. Paul called them “The weak and beggarly elements…”
Galatians 4:9-10 (NKJV)
9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
C. Thank God for special days: Easter, Pentecost Sunday, Christmas - But these DAYS will not meet your spiritual needs – Only Jesus can!!!
D. Jesus rent the veil in the temple to destroy Ceremonial worship. He gave us direct access to Him any time, any place, for any reason!
2. Traditionalism
A. Some think the building is sacred.
B. Some think they can only find Christ one way –the way they did…
· At the altar; On bended knee; sobbing; screaming; etc.
· Thank God there is no traditional way to receive Christ:
o The lame man received Christ and took up his bed and walked
o The manic of Gadera received Christ in a graveyard and went home in his right mind.
o Peter, James, and John found Christ while fishing,
o Zaccheus met Christ up in a tree.
o Nichodemas found Christ by night.
o Saul found Him in the middle of the road.
o The thief met Christ on the cross in death.
o One lady found Him at a well while drawing water…
C. Christ talked about traditionalism when He met the woman at the well in
John 4:20-24 (NKJV)
20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."
21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
3. Selfrighteousness
A. The person trying to find Christ in the sepulchre of selfrighteousness never sees his or her own faults:
1) They always try to whitewash themselves
2) Jesus called them white-washed sepulchres
3) Outwardly they were clean but inwardly they full of dead men’s bones
B. The selfrighteous person will give up the one gross sin – not in heart But only in appearance - or only when someone is watching.
C. The selfrighteous person seldom changes because they “justify” all their faults and shortcomings - They have a “good reason” for everything they do or do not do!
Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
4. Sensationalism
A. There are those who think they can find Christ in some kind of feeling or emotional response.
B. Thank God for the “feeling” He shares with us sometimes.
C. BUT we must be willing to serve and follow Him if we never “felt” Him
D. Christ is not found in a “Jerk”, a “Shaking”, or a “Falling Out” in the floor…..
You may do one or all of those things – But He is not found there –
· He is found through the Spirit.
· He is found with a seeking heart and hungry Spirit
Some are looking for Christ in:
5. Memories Of The Past
A. Thank God for what He did for us months or years ago…
B. Thank God for what we were able to do for Him months or years ago…
Galatians 5:7 (NKJV) You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Matthew 10:22 …he that endures to the end will be saved.
6. Future Good Intentions
A. Many are looking for Christ with future good intentions:
o Just as soon as I get my life in order
o Just as soon as I get my education finished
o Just as soon as I get a good job
o Just as soon as I get my marriage straightened out
o Just as soon as I get my kids grown
o Just as soon as I get my retirement in order
o Just as soon as I….. get my future plans together…..
B. You are looking for Christ in the wrong place….
C. You are searching in vein
D. You can’t find Him where He is not….
Conclusion:
1. We’ve got to stop trying to find Christ in the wrong places
2. You can’t find Him in:
Ceremonialism; Traditionalism; Selfrighteousness Sensationalism;
Memories of The Past;
Future Good Intentions
- Those things are DEAD…
- “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen…”
3. These things are expressions of our selfish way of trying to find Christ…
4. We cannot save ourselves!
5. The gospel is not for those who can save themselves through: Ceremonialism, Traditionalism, Selfrighteousness, Sensationalism, Memories of the Past, or with Future Good Intentions…
6. But for those who are Lost:
o For sinners who cannot keep the law within themselves,
o For those who have broken God’s law,
For those who have incurred its penalty,
o For those who know that they have done wrong and confess
7. Those who know they can’t change anything about their spiritual life within themselves - They are the ones who will find Him
8. All others are searching for Him in vein. They will never find Him.
…………..He is not there!
…………..They are searching in Vain