He is not here, He is risen - Matthew 28.6

There had been various times in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ when people had sought Him. There were, for example, the wise men in Matthew 2.1-4., then there were his parents as they searched for Him over a period of three days in Luke 2.43-47. There was Zacchaeus who climbed up the sycamore tree, for he sought to see Jesus; who He was Luke 19.1-5. Even King Herod desired to see the Lord Jesus, but soon with his men of war set Him at nought Luke 23.8-11. In the next verse no. 12 we see how Herod and Pilate became friends. Quite interesting that, how two enemies could unite in their opposition to the Christ of God. At the time of His crucifixion there were the soldiers, who "sitting down watched Him there", Matthew 27.36. All of these occasions were before the death of Christ. When we come to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus we find that there were those that sought the Lord Jesus again; but He was not to be found because "He is not here He is risen" Matthew 28.5-7. Whilst he was on earth He was to be found, because He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He was the Saviour of the world. After His resurrection he only appeared to His own, never to those who had despised and rejected Him. These are sobering thoughts, because those people had their opportunity, and some had taken it, but others had not.

The application of such scriptures must be that when confronted with the Gospel message and the claims of Christ we need to respond whilst there is still time. How many have heard the Gospel even decades ago, but have never taken the opportunity to get saved - to ask the Lord Jesus to forgive us for all our sins - and to repent of them and turn to Him in faith. We may have a superficial interest in Him, but so did so many in His day but they never trusted Him for salvation. At His crucifixion people were glad to be rid of Him, and just longed to have Him out of the way. Those people got their wish but where are they now. The Bible tells us that "as it is appointed unto man once to die but after this the judgement" Hebrews 9.27. This means that Pilate, King Herod, the Roman soldiers, the Scribes and the Pharisees, and the individuals in the crowds: if they never repented of their sins, having crucified the Son of God, will one day stand before God to be judged. What a terrifying thing to be judged by the one that they had condemned to death and so cruelly treated, and when they had the opportunity to respond in faith - how different things could have been. So incidentally will we stand before Him on that great and terrible day, if we don't receive the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, and turn to Him in faith, whilst there is still time. ":behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of Salvation" 1 Corinthians 6.2b.