I. Introduction
-Good morning and welcome!
-Please start turning in your Bibles to Mark 16. In just a moment we are going to be reading the first 8 verses. Again, that is Mark 16:1-8.
-As you know, today is a very special day in the life of the church.
-Today as we gather, we celebrate our RISEN LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!
-Today is the culmination of what the Church refers to as Holy Week, beginning with Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem that we learned about last week.
-Which led up to his arrest and crucifixion, which we learned about Friday night.
-As we ended on Friday night, we were left with the image of Jesus laying in the tomb surrounded by dejected and confused disciples.
-And as we left, I left those who were with us with the message that-that was where the story ended for Friday, but that was not the end of the story.
-We have a luxury that the disciples did not have the day that Jesus was crucified.
-We have the luxury of being able to look at the story from a different perspective.
-We understand this morning that Friday was a horrible day, but Sunday came.
-Sunday came and Jesus Christ rose, just as he had promised to do.
-But these disciples didn’t have that assurance. On Friday and Saturday, they were confused. They didn’t know what to do. All of their hopes and dreams had died with Jesus. Not only that but they were associated with this Jesus, who was an outlaw.
They were afraid to even be seen in public.
-So, they were as low as low could get.
-And I believe that there are many times in our own lives that we end up in that same situation.
-We are brought as low as we can go and do not know which direction to go or which way to turn.
-Some may be here this morning and this describes where you are at today.
-However, Easter is a celebration of HOPE and when you leave here this morning, if you take nothing else with you take this.
-You CAN place your hope in Jesus Christ.
-You CAN place your faith in Jesus Christ.
-Because Jesus both fulfilled and fulfills his promises, which is what we are going to read about this morning in Mark 16.
-So, if you have found Mark 16 in your Bible, I’d invite you to stand with me as we read the first 8 verses on the subject of Who Shall Roll the Stone Away?
-Mark writes . . .
II. Scripture Focus
Mark 16:1–8 NIV - Anglicised
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” 8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
III. The Sabbath is Over
-We pick up here in the Gospel according to Mark right after the end of the Sabbath.
-The way the Jewish calendar works is that Jesus was crucified on a Friday and the Sabbath began that evening at sundown and ended the following day at sundown (Saturday).
-And as the sun went down over the hills, the new day (Sunday) began, marking not only a new day but also a new week.
-So, after sunset that Saturday evening, the women who had witnessed Jesus’ death, went and bought spices to prepare Jesus’ body for burial the next morning.
-The custom was that in those days, when a person died, unless they were Egyptian or had lots of money and not Jewish, they were typically not embalmed, but rather their bodies were covered in spices and perfumes, they were wrapped in grave clothes, that were also covered in spices. Their bodies were placed in a tomb, which was then sealed with a large stone to keep animals out. Then after about a year, the family would return to the tomb and take the bones that were left and place them in a small box and put them on a shelf built into the tomb. There they would remain with other relatives that died and done the same way.
-And this was the plan for Jesus and as Mark writes in the first verse . . .
Mark 16:1 NIV - Anglicised
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
-So, sometime in the evening after the end of the Sabbath, the women purchase the spices they need to anoint Jesus and verse two tells us that . . .
Mark 16:2 NIV - Anglicised
2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb
-So, they set out to the tomb, very early in the morning, just after the sun had rose for the day.
-This was not a pleasant journey, but it was a necessary journey.
-Although Jesus had died and all their hopes and dreams seemingly died with him, they still loved Him.
-They still respected and honored Him as their Rabbi, their teacher, and their friend.
-So, just as we do today, they set out to honor His memory and try to reclaim some of the dignity and humanity that was so violently stripped from Him at his trial and death.
IV. Who Will Roll Away the Tomb?
-However, as they are walking toward the tomb, they realize that they have a problem.
-There is an obstacle that is standing in their way.
-There is something that they had not thought about that would prevent them from doing what they came to do.
-Verse 3 tells us that . . .
Mark 16:3 NIV - Anglicised
3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
-Who is going to roll this stone away?
-Who is going to remove this obstacle so that we can get to the Lord?
-Who is going to help us with this?
-And these questions are central questions, not only in the story of Jesus’ resurrection, but also in our lives.
-Who is going to roll the stone away in our lives?
-Who is going to remove the obstacles that come against us in our lives?
-Who is going to help us in our time of need?
-These are questions that we all ask.
-The answers are answers that we all seek everyday.
-Especially when life is pounding against us.
-When nothing is going our way.
-When we have lost all hope.
-When our hopes and dreams appear to be gone and destroyed forever.
-Where does our help come from?
-Who is going to roll that stone away in our lives?
-The Bible tells us that . . .
Psalm 121:2 NIV - Anglicised
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
-Jesus Himself tells us to . . .
Matthew 11:28–30 NIV - Anglicised
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
-And I think there are many here this morning that need to hear this message.
-As we stated in the very beginning, the purpose of Easter is to celebrate HOPE.
-In our world today, we desperately need HOPE.
-The Psalmist also tells us that . . .
Psalm 33:20–22 NIV - Anglicised
20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 39:7 NIV - Anglicised
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.
-And finally . . .
Psalm 62:5–8 NIV - Anglicised
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honour depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
-Folks, the message this morning is that JESUS IS OUR HOPE!
-In fact, JESUS IS OUR ONLY HOPE!
-We cannot put our hopes in governments, in jobs, in fame, in fortune, and most importantly, we cannot put our hope in ourselves or other people.
-Our hope is found in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone.
-The same hope that is revealed here, in our passage from Mark 16.
-Our story here continues as the women approach the tomb and are discussing this problem of who will roll away this stone?
-This heavy stone that had been placed at the entrance of the tomb.
-And for these women, this is a huge problem because they were not strong enough to remove this stone.
-The way it worked was that before rolling the stone in place they would dig a groove out in the ground which made it easier to roll the stone into place. However, in order to roll it away, it would take several people and maybe even an animal or two to get it back out of this groove. These were huge stones that were heavy, maybe even a ton.
-Which is exactly the way our burdens feel sometimes.
-So, here they are, walking along discussing things, trying to figure out who they could get that would agree to roll this thing away so they could get into the tomb and their bad day was getting even worse at this point.
V. The Stone is Gone!
-But then they see something at puzzles them and amazes them all at the same time . . .
Mark 16:4 NIV - Anglicised
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
-The stone had been rolled to the side.
-Somebody had come along and prepared the entrance for them.
-All this time they had spent worrying about what they were going to do and there was really no need to worry.
-Their faith had been shaken and had wavered so much and this stone was almost the straw that broke the camels back, and they had worried themselves sick over it.
-And for what reason?
-Was their worrying going to change anything?
-What about us this morning?
-Think for just a minute about all the things that we worry about every single day.
-Does that worrying help anything?
-Does it provide a solution?
-Is it helpful in any way really?
-I want to remind you of something Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 . . .
Matthew 6:25–34 NIV - Anglicised
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
-Also, we read it earlier . . .
Matthew 11:28–30 NIV - Anglicised
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
-It’s easier said that done though, isn’t it?
-It seems like no matter how hard you try to fix it, it never goes away.
-Have you tried giving it to Jesus this morning?
-Have you placed your faith in Him this morning?
-Have you given your burdens over to Him?
-We can’t fix it.
-We can’t remove those stones in our way, but He can.
-Jesus also tells us in John 14 . . .
John 14:1 NIV - Anglicised
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
-Have we fully trusted in Jesus this morning?
-Jesus also tells us in that same passage that . . .
John 14:6 NIV - Anglicised
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.
-Again, Jesus is the only way, the only hope we have.
-Worrying about it does not fix anything.
-Also, this morning I don’t want you think that by trusting Jesus all of your problems will magically disappear.
-That’s not how it works.
-Life goes on and life still happens.
-But with Jesus we have a way to overcome and a way to endure.
-We are not out there alone trying to fix things.
-Regardless of what happens and what the outcomes are, we know that we are in God’s hands and while life may try to knock us off our feet, we have peace knowing that God is far greater than ANYTHING life can throw at us.
-And we also have the hope that . . .
John 14:2–3 NIV - Anglicised
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
-So, the problem may still be there, but the stone that stands in the way of us getting to God is removed.
-So, back to our story . . .
VI. He is Risen!
Mark 16:5 NIV - Anglicised
5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
-So, as they enter the tomb, they are looking around and they encounter this young man dressed in a white robe as Mark puts it.
-Knowing that they were standing in the presence of an angel of God, they were terrified.
-They were in awe of the angel’s presence.
-But the angel wasn’t there to frighten them.
-No, this young man, this angel of God, was there to give them an announcement that would change their whole life.
-In fact, the announcement would change their entire eternity.
-Not only theirs but ALL HUMANITY’S!
-And that message is this . . .
Mark 16:6 NIV - Anglicised
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
-And this is our hope this morning.
-Not in people, not in religions, not in churches, not in governments.
-No our HOPE is in Jesus Christ.
-And not only in a Jesus who was crucified.
-NO our HOPE is in a RISEN SAVIOR.
-People ask, why not Islam? Why not Buddhism? Why not Hinduism?
-Why not this religion or that religion?
-Because their gods are all dead.
-There is no hope in death.
-Jesus is the only Risen Savior.
-Jesus is the only one what IS ALIVE.
-Jesus is the only one that offers REAL HOPE.
-And the angel tells them . . .
Mark 16:7 NIV - Anglicised
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
-And the women . . .
Mark 16:8 NIV - Anglicised
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
-Initially, they didn’t tell anybody anything, because they were afraid.
-But eventually, later that day they did.
-Later that day they revealed the nature of the Living, Risen Savior.
-Later they changed the entire course of history.
VII. Altar Call
-This morning I wonder where we stand.
-Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ this morning?
-The only risen and living Savior.
-Have you trusted Jesus with all things?
-Cast your cares and burdens on Him this morning?
-Maybe you are here and there is a stone that is blocking your way.
-Something that is standing in your path.
-Are you willing to allow Jesus to remove that stone this morning?
-If you are I would invite you to come.
-In just a few moments we will be having a baptism.
-Have you been baptized this morning?
-If not, we can do that too this morning.
-All you have to do is be willing to come and be willing to allow Jesus full and total access to your heart.
-Will you come?
