- [00:00:00] Almost two months ago, a dear friend and mentor of mine passed away in Germany. He was a brilliant scientist who pioneered core technologies that reshaped the silicon semiconductor industry. But beyond his scientific achievements, he was a deeply compassionate leader. I found a picture of him patiently putting my daughter Kerisa, then six months old, into a car seat while she screamed, and he was smiling at her. That kindness is rare among brilliant minds. I traveled to his hometown, Mardingan in the Black Forest, to attend his funeral in a beautiful Gothic Catholic church and met his wife, a dear friend who was wrestling with deep spiritual questions. - [00:01:22] His wife, knowing I am now a pastor, asked me to pray for him, wondering where her beloved Oswald—whom we called Aussie—is now. He was only 59. Her question echoed a universal one: Where is our loved one after death? What awaits us beyond this life? This is not just her question; it is ours as well. Easter provides an answer—not as theory or wishful thinking—but rooted in history. Jesus Christ is the only person who has walked out of the grave alive. Today, we examine Easter Sunday through the eyes of the first witnesses: three women and two men. - [00:03:26] The story begins with three women who loved Jesus dearly—Healer, Leader, Friend. They had witnessed His miracles, including raising Lazarus from the dead, and came to honor Him. But when they arrived at the tomb, Jesus was not there. The historicity of the resurrection is crucial. Luke, the gospel writer and a physician, wrote to Theophilus, a Roman official, providing three kinds of evidence: forensic, historical, and personal testimonies. The empty tomb, the linen cloths, the missing body, and the testimony of women—whose accounts were often discounted in that culture—give strong credibility to the resurrection narrative. Peter even verified it himself. - [00:06:55] Beyond evidence, the text reveals many questions asked by angels, disciples, and Jesus. We focus on three life-changing questions relevant to us: 1) Where do we seek life? 2) Who gives life? 3) How do we live this abundant life—not just now, but eternally? - [00:07:33] First, where do we seek life? The angels ask the women, \"Why do you seek the living among the dead?\" They expected to find a dead Jesus, but life is not found in death. This question challenges us today: Where are we searching for life’s purpose and meaning? Too often, we seek life in lifeless things—wealth, success, technology, or fleeting pleasures. Take Silicon Valley or the California Gold Rush as examples: many were drawn by promises of abundant life, but these promises fall empty. The prevailing formula—technology plus money equals happiness—is false math. These are empty graves offering no true life. - [00:12:27] Jesus had already demonstrated He alone has power over death and life. Mary Magdalene, healed from demon possession, and others who trusted Jesus knew He held life. Yet even the women forgot Jesus’ words that He must suffer, die, and rise again. Grief distorts understanding and tempts us to look for life in dead things—work, hobbies, relationships, or escapism. I too experienced this disorientation after losing my brother-in-law. But the answer is to return to Jesus, who alone offers true life. The Westminster Confession states the chief end of man is to know God and enjoy Him forever. Without Him, we drift toward dead things. - [00:16:21] The story shifts to two disciples walking to Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. Though they had heard the resurrection news, “their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.” They had facts but lacked understanding. In our information age, we possess vast knowledge, yet understanding is elusive. These disciples sought a political Messiah—a victorious king—but Jesus was the suffering Savior, crucified for sin. On the road, Jesus explained the Scriptures, beginning with Moses and the prophets, revealing Himself as the fulfillment of God’s promises. - [00:21:14] Jesus taught that God created humanity in His image to reflect His goodness and love, but sin disrupted this relationship, leading to chaos—anger, murder, and lust. We see this daily: the root of anger is pride, the desire to be like God without submission to Him. God’s justice required sin to be punished, His faithfulness required promises to be fulfilled, and His love provided a way back through Jesus, who bore our sin and judgment. The resurrection declares the debt paid in full and death defeated. - [00:24:37] Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3). Life is not mere knowledge or admiration of Jesus as a teacher or prophet, but a living relationship with the risen Savior. The disciples came to know Him through Scripture, as we can today. I encourage anyone unfamiliar with God to begin reading the Gospel of John. The Bible is unique: the living Author speaks to us through His Word, bringing life, conviction, comfort, and guidance. - [00:27:50] At Emmaus, Jesus broke bread with the disciples, and “their eyes were opened.” This encounter ignited their hearts. Charles Spurgeon called knowing God “the highest science” and “the king of sciences.” Theology, the study of God, is the most profound pursuit. When God’s Word comes alive, sin becomes real, grace beautiful, and Christ precious. Our hearts change, and we gain a new purpose. - [00:30:21] These disciples, once despondent and confused, ran back to Jerusalem to testify joyfully. This transformation mirrors my own journey—from a fulfilling scientific career to the surpassing joy of daily encountering Christ in His Word. Jesus, the living Word, empowers us with new life and direction. - [00:32:10] Returning to the funeral, his wife’s hope reflected a common Catholic belief in purgatory—a second chance after death. But Easter proclaims a different truth: Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death once for all. If Easter is true, death is not the end; it is a gateway to eternal life. This is not speculation but certainty grounded in the resurrection. - [00:33:32] The angels’ question remains for us: Do you still seek the living among the dead? Jesus is alive and offers life now and forever. He is not a philosophy but the person who declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” My prayer is that you will experience this life-giving faith before you leave this world.