He Still Moves Stones

HE STILL MOVES STONES

Matthew 28.1-10

S: Resurrection

C: Impossible situations

Pr: GOD CAN DO FOR YOU WHAT YOU THINK IS IMPOSSIBLE.

I. WOMEN!

II. STONED!

III. ANGELS!

IV. JESUS!

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Come to these realizations…

o God can move stones for you.

o God can do for you what you think is impossible.

o God loves you no matter what and can give you life.

• Give Him unquestioned control of your heart.

Version: ESV

RMBC 12 April 09 AM

INTRODUCTION:

That video gives us a good perspective of connecting our two major holidays – Christmas and today, Resurrection Day.

The purpose of Jesus coming as a baby was always the cross.

That is sobering, isn’t it?

Have you ever thought what it might be like to be living the day that Jesus died on the cross?

One thing for sure is that…

Friday had been a dark day.

Think of all that happened…

• A disciple’s betrayal

• Arrest in the garden

• Peter’s embarrassing attempt at swordplay

• Jewish leaders’ conniving

• Peter’s denial

• Pilate’s cowardice

• Loyal followers on the run

• Christ’s anguish

• Satan’s glee

What a dark day!

And now it was all over.

It was all so disappointing!

The person that gave them and humanity hope was gone.

The foot that walked on water was nailed.

The hand that dared to touch lepers was stopped.

There must have been so much disillusionment.

And I am sure that more than one of them was kicking themselves, thinking, “We should have done more.”

Have you ever lived with that kind of disappointment?

We need to be careful when we are disappointed, because…

Disappointment will blind you.

Our church has made a connection with someone in our community that is like this.

They can’t seem to make a connection with God because they can’t get over what they perceive to be so much unfairness and injustice in this world, and in their own life.

In their thinking, the good people have it hard, and the bad people have it good.

The unfortunate thing is that when you get stuck there, you become blind to the very presence of God.

Your eyes are so turned inward, that you cannot see that God is right there.

This is the very thing that happens on Resurrection Day!

OUR STUDY:

Matthew 28:1-10

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

After a silent Sabbath day, notice who the story is about first…

WOMEN!

Who dares to come to the tomb?

It is the women.

Where are the guys?

Where is Peter and Andrew?

Where is Bartholomew and Thomas?

Nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps they considered this women’s work, I don’t know.

I think that would be a flimsy excuse, really.

It was more likely they were scared to be seen in public.

But I have to wonder, how did these women expect to get into the tomb to complete the burial of Jesus?

Did they know there were Roman guards?

If they did not know, how did they plan to move that stone?

And if they did know there were Roman guards, did they think that they would give these women the time of day and open it for them?

Ah…this is all a moot point, isn’t it?

Because those guards got…

STONED!

Not like you are thinking.

But we do have this…

We’ve got action!

The soldiers that are guarding the tomb are confronted with a violent earthquake.

And they fall over, they are like dead men.