"When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back--it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."

"You seek Jesus of Nazareth, he is not here" Have you noticed how often God fails to fit into our preconceptions about how things should work? In this case it is understandable of course. I mean, you would expect a dead person to remain dead and a body to remain in the tomb. Like Mary Magadalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome we can all find ourselves looking for Jesus in the wrong place.

Earlier in Mark's gospel we read that Jesus warned his disciples of false prophets and false Christs who would perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect - if that were possible (Mk.13:23). Some people clamour after signs and are impressed when their expectations are more than met in someone with an engaging manner and a bag of tricks. But Jesus warned us all beforehand that these were not to be regarded as the marks of authenticity we should seek.

Matthew, writing about the same occasion, wrote that some would come declaring that Jesus would be found somewhere remote, somewhere accessible to only a dedicated few "out in the desert", or he would be found somewhere secret and accessible to only the initiated "the inner room" (Mt.24:26) None of this was true yet even today there are those who cry, "Look here is the Christ" and others who are filled with religious and esoteric preconceptions that make them vulnerable to such claims.

Yet Jesus has promised to be with every believer who truly trusts in him to the very end of the age (Mt:28:20) We are not to go to some remote place or secret chamber to be with him because "God does not live in temples built by hands" (Acts 17:24) but he has promised to come and dwell in us "for we are temple of the living God" (2 Cor.6:16).

Finally, there is to be no secret about his Second Advent:

"For as lightening that comes from the east is visible in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Mt.24:27) "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory" (Mk.13:26)

It is popular these days to think of truth as relative as though it is lying around in different shaped lumps designed to satisfy different preconceptions. Telling the gospel is making sure people understand that truth has a particular shape and form called Jesus and that people who seek him should look in the right place or he will not be found. One day, of course, he will be seen by everyone but will they have found him in time to face that day with confidence? We must encourage people to not seek the living among the dead.

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