The Stone Was Rolled Away!
Introduction
As we gather in front of the Belle Glade City Hall on this early Sunday Morning there are many in the world that would like to know why. Why are gathering around city hall at 6:45 am and what is so important that they would get up so early? I know that some of these children have asked this question. What was your answer?
Was it that it the Easter Sunrise Service? What makes Easter Sunrise Service so important that we have to get up so early? Easter Morning is important because what happen that morning over two thousands years ago is the cornerstone of our Christian faith.
It was the resurrection of Jesus Christ that Sunday morning that gives us the assurances that one day we too will rise and it’s because the stone was rolled away that we could testify that He lives.
Mark 16:1-10
16 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. KJV
I would like to take my subject from verse four of this chapter.
Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. KJV
Subject
“The Stone was Rolled Back!”
In our scriptures we are told in verse two:
Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. KJV
We are told that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome and Joanna arrived at the tomb early that Sunday morning. These were women who was still grieving because we are told in verse ten:
Mark 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. KJV
There are three things we can note about these women while they were still grieving:
First Their Commitment
A. They were at the cross when Jesus was crucified:
Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; KJV
Their commitment had them near Jesus as He suffered on the cross. I know many of you may be thinking where was the disciples and we all know they were in hiding; but the women were not in danger. They stay at the cross until He died on the cross.
B. They were there when He was buried.
Mark 15:46-47
46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. KJV
Their commitment took them to the burial sight of Jesus. Because they were so close to the Sabbath day they did not have time to properly prepare Jesus’ body for burial. We are told they “…took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre…” The women were committed to see that Jesus was properly buried.
I heard someone say this week that they took the rock and place Him in a rock and rolled a rock in front of the rock to keep the rock in.
C. They arrived early at His Grave.
Mark 16:1-2
16 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. KJV
Although they thought Jesus was dead their commitment to Him had not changed. We need that same kind of commitment today. If they could be committed to Jesus when they thought He was died, we should have a stronger commitment because we know He lives.
Not only do we see their commitment; we also see their charge.
Secondly Their Charge
Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. KJV
As we had noted earlier, because they did not have time to properly prepare Jesus body for burial.
Mark 15:42-46
42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
KJV
One of the many challenges to the Christian faith is the question did Jesus die on the cross. In these scripture we have the testimony of and centurion of His death. Note in verse forty-four “…Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.”
Jesus had died and they did not have time to properly prepare His body for burial so the women
Luke 23:54-56
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. KJV
Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. KJV
These women were committed and they came with a charge; but they also had a challenge.
Third Their Challenge
Mark 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? KJV
They recognized that they could not remove the stone on their own. We are told:
Matthew 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. KJV
They seal the stone in front of the tomb and set guards around the tomb. Their challenge was how to move the stone so they could anoint Jesus. As always when you are committed to Jesus and fulfilling your charge God will remove any challenges. God sent an angle to move the stone.
Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. KJV
The Angel rolled back the stone not to let Jesus out but to enable the women to God in and when they went in the bible says:
Mark 16:5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. KJV
We are here this morning to celebrate not because of what they saw in the tomb but what they did not see. They did not see the body of Jesus.
We are here to celebrate the message they received from the angel that morning.
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. KJV
We are here to celebrate because when the stone was rolled away, Jesus of Nazareth, which had been crucified was not there, He had risen just as He had said.
The women that came to the grave mourning and weeping left the tomb rejoicing and with a new charge.
Matthew 28:7-8
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. KJV
Because the stone was rolled away we have a charge today. That is our charge to leave this service this morning and go tell someone.
I serve a risen Savior; He's in the world today:
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He's always near. He lives He lives,
He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives He lives salvation to impart, You ask me how I know He live? He lives within my heart.