R1 Sheri Richards

Luke 24:2-7

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.”

My painting is titled “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” This is my rendition of what may have happened when the stone was rolled away from the tomb. I have painted one of the angels that was at the tomb. He is relaxed, peaceful, and sitting on top of the tomb of Jesus Christ shrugging his shoulders as if to say, “Why are you surprised, didn’t He tell you that this would come to past?” During our Lords ministry here on earth, He constantly admonished His followers for their lack of faith. The tomb was empty and the heavy stone was rolled away, but Jesus understood that because people are skeptical and unbelieving that they would doubt His resurrection. Therefore, I believe that Jesus purposely asked the angel to stay. The angel had to be there to greet them, remind them of the words that Jesus spoke, and to also give them hope.

Even in our own lives we have to ask ourselves “do we believe what we say that we do?” The Lord shows us time and time again that He is in control and yet we fail to believe it. These are uncertain and scary times. Now more than ever we must take His word in our hearts and trust what He says. We must remember that we are His children and that He will not leave us nor forsake us. We do not serve a dead God because our Lord is alive, and well, and in control.