Who Shall Roll Away the Stone?
Study Text: Mark 16:1-8
Introduction:
- Mark tells us that when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to prepare Jesus’ body for burial.
- Early on Sunday morning, certain women came to Jesus tomb to anoint His body properly as it was hurriedly done on Friday. But there was a big question on their lips, “who shall help us roll away the stone?”
- When they got to the tomb, the stone had already been rolled away, but not by any manpower. It was God power. An angel of the Lord had rolled the stone away.
- All their worries and concerns over the problem of the stone had been needless. God had things under control.
- Their tears and sadness, doubts and fears had been needless too. Jesus was not dead! “He is risen, just as he said,” the angel told them.
- That same God is active in our lives too. Easter gives us an opportunity each year to revisit the empty tomb and be reminded of the power of God, who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine.
- Satan thought it was over for Jesus and the redemption of Man, but the day became the beginning of victory for Man and a day of great accomplishment for Jesus.
- We shall discuss the topic under three sub-headings:
1. A Progressive Decision
2. A Problematic Distraction
3. A Powerful Dominion
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1. A Progressive Decision
- Thank God that they were women of faith as stated in Hebrews 11: 35, they decided to go and try rather than staying indoors like the men.
- These women, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome had followed Joseph as he buried Christ on Friday. They watched as he wrapped the body in the linen. They saw him place Jesus' body in the tomb. They stood there watching as the stone rolled into place sealing the tomb.
- There were no alleluias, no notes of joy in their hushed whispers. They were grieving and devastated. They had seen their beloved Jesus, their teacher, stripped of not only his clothes, but every possible shred of human dignity, murdered in the most horrible way possible, and laid in the garden tomb.
- Sundown and the Sabbath approached quickly; the shops were all closed and so they could not even purchase the proper spices to anoint and honour his body and, in some small way, return to him the dignity that had been so cruelly taken away.
- Their biggest worry this morning was the heavy stone they had seen placed at the entrance to Jesus’ tomb. Who would move it away for them so they could perform the duties of love and honour for their teacher, their friend, their Lord?
- So, they gathered quietly, with their heads down, speaking their few words in hushed whispers. The women knew that all the followers of Jesus were now in grave danger, but Love called them to risk their very lives. The disciples, especially Peter, who had denied even knowing Jesus — they had all run away and were now in hiding.
- As the stone rolled into place it signified for them the end of Jesus' life and his ministry. The stone rolled into place was a symbol of the end of their hopes and dreams for a new life. Finally, the stone sealing the tomb was an obstacle.
- For these women, it prevented them from ministering to the body of Jesus. The stone became a symbol for the end of it all. The stone was such a powerful symbol for them that they discuss it while they are walking. How will they get past the stone? How will they get past this obstacle, this symbol of death and ending, to anoint the body? Who will roll away the stone?
- These women began to walk to the tomb, knowing the stone was there. How would they be able to remove the stone and anoint the body of Jesus? Remember, this was a big stone. The three of them together would not be able to remove it. It was a burdensome stone. If they were to give it their all, they would still be unable to roll the stone away.
- In spite of the difficulty facing them, they began their journey toward the stone. It would have been easy for these women to not even begin their journey. They knew this huge stone was standing in their way, and yet they pressed on. Oh can’t you hear them talking as they walked along the way, “Who is going to move the stone out of our way?”
- Just like the stone over the grave of Jesus was an obstacle to these women, we all have stones which prevent us from reaching out in faith to Jesus Christ. Often times, most of the time, we cannot remove them by ourselves. Like the women on the way to the tomb we are not strong enough to move these heavy stones. But there is someone who can.
- God rolled away the stone of death and replaced it forever with eternal life with God. God can help us roll away our stones too. There is no stone of ours so heavy that God cannot help us remove it from our lives. There is no stone so harmful that God cannot remove it and replace it with a living heart of love.
2. A Problematic Distraction
- What are stones? Stones are majorly objects of obstruction. They are impediments. They block one’s view, make one to stumble, block one’s path and make advancement difficult.
- Every stone blocking your path shall either be crushed or you will sit on it in Jesus name. The stones shall not dictate your life. You shall see their end.
- As the women were coming to the grave, apart from the size of the stone, other things must have been bothering them, like the soldiers watching the grave and the seal of the Roman Governor.
- Again, when they got there, they discovered that the soldiers had run away out of fear and the seal has been shattered. May those monitoring your movement with evil plans and intentions be overwhelmed with great fear. May they abandon your case hurriedly and hide forever in Jesus name.
- There are several situations in life that can represent the great stone that needed to be rolled away. These include things that can block one’s path of progress, preventing one from fulfilling purpose and destiny, and things working against fullness of joy in your life.
- The bad news is that everyone has one or several of these stones at various stages of life, and this stones are of different sizes and made up of different materials in terms of strength.
- The common thing however is that they are all from a common source, which is the kingdom of darkness, they have a common goal, which is to tamper with people’s joy by hindering their progress in life.
- The good news is that only one power can roll away the stones, and that is the Power of the Holy Ghost, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. By that power, every stone is rolled away in your life in Jesus name.
- There are several situations in the Bible, where God arose for His people and rolled away their stones by the working of His power and for the glory of His name. Some of these include:
i. The Deliverance at the Red Sea.
- In Exodus Chapter 14, the Israelites were marching majestically and joyfully to the Promised Land after Pharaoh finally allowed them to go. They had secured wealth from the Egyptians and singing freedom at last.
- However, that feeling was short lived as they saw the Egyptian Army coming for them again. In front of them was the Red Sea, it was a huge stone that needed to move; otherwise they would have to go back into captivity.
- Thank God, on that occasion, the Red Sea was parted! The stone against them was rolled away. Pharaoh and his armies got drowned.
- After the order of the Israelites, every Pharaoh and army that are stubbornly pursuing you, trying to force you into the captivity of your past will be drowned in Jesus name.
ii. The miraculous restoration of abundance in the city of Samaria.
- In 2 Kings 7: 1- 20, God supernaturally rolled away the stone of scarcity, lack, pains, hunger and sufferings in the city of Samaria within 24 hours.
- After the order of the city of Samaria, the power of the Most High God will restore all your losses and give you supernatural abundance in Jesus name.
- The armies of Syria had encamped against Samaria for a lengthy time to the extent that people were eating their children in turns. The lepers decided to approach the enemies for food even though they might be killed or spared, but it’s better than accepting to do nothing and die.
- Unknown to them, God had earlier chased the enemies away, leaving behind plenty food, raiment and money. They didn’t only survived, they became wealthy.
Are you faced with stone of poverty or lack of any kind? God can roll it away. If you are faced with stones of lack of any kind, God will provide for you. The little you have, Jehovah Jireh will multiply for you and you will have surplus in Jesus name.
iii. The victory the Lord granted His people over Goliath
- May be you are facing something or someone that is stronger than yourself. No matter how powerful the object might be, you will overcome it in Jesus name.
- Goliath was stronger than anyone in Israel. The challenge they had was who will represent them. God however did not use a huge fellow; it was David a young boy that was used.
- Goliath’s head was cut-off indicating a total and lasting victory over the enemy. That same power of God will grant you victory over every strong man challenging you in Jesus name. God that delivers the weak from the hands of the mighty shall deliver you.
iv. The raising of Lazarus from the dead
- When Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick, He said the sickness was not unto death, but to the glory of God. Lazarus however died, and was buried four days before Jesus arrived.
- After Jesus had greeted Mary and Martha, the first thing He said regarding the case was for the stone blocking the path of him that was dead to be removed. Other commands were given, but for the glory of God to manifest in Lazarus life, the stone had to first be rolled away.
- Every stone that may be hindering the glory of God to be shown upon your life, whether they exist in the physical or spiritual shall be removed by the power of the Holy Ghost in Jesus name.
3. A Powerful Dominion
- As they approached the tomb, they discovered that their main problem had been taken care of somehow.
- Simply put, some people are here today that are been bothered by ‘huge stones’. Something that is not allowing you to make progress, something that is not letting you do specific things you would have loved to do.
- By the power of the Holy Spirit, after the experience of these faithful women, the next time you will check, you will discover that ‘the stone’ has been removed in Jesus name.
- Note that the stone was not partially opened for Jesus to squeeze Himself out, it was rolled away. The angel that rolled it away actually sat on it; saying let me see who will roll it back.
- In the light of this, that problem in your life will not be partially solved; it will be dealt with totally and permanently. May the angel of God sit on the stone that has been troubling your life in Jesus name.
- In whatever area of your life you have been struggling for many years, may the Power of Resurrection bring that struggle to an end totally and completely in Jesus name.
- The stone and the tomb of Jesus were shame and reproach to Him while he laid there. How could the Son of the Living God be trapped in a cave? The Jews were celebrating that He was gone finally. Thank God it wasn’t for long. The power of the Holy Ghost set Him free. Jesus rose up in a glorious body and became unstoppable.
- After the order of Jesus, the power of the Holy Ghost shall set you free from every hold of shame and reproach in your life in Jesus name. May God disappoint those who are rejoicing against you in your present condition in Jesus name. Micah 7:8.
- The word of the Lord says: those that put their trust in the Lord shall not be put to shame, and in place of shame, you will have double honour and glory. That will be your portion in every area of your life in Jesus name.
- What is the burden that you are carrying today? What is the problem that like a huge stone is weighing you down? Jesus can roll that stone away, if you only have faith. If you only believe!! No stone is too big for Him to handle. No burden too heavy for Him to carry. He can roll them all away.
- Family problems: Problems between husbands and wives - Jesus can roll them away! Problems with rebellious, disobedient children, who are on drugs-following bad company, living in sexual immorality - Jesus can roll those away too. Financial problems- He can roll them away. Sickness in the family or personal sickness- If we have faith Jesus can roll them away.
- Tired of living in sin? Tired of your sinful old self. Your old sinful disposition can be rolled away and the Holy Spirit can fill you and empower you to go and sin no more.
- Through the power of Christ, the prisoners shall all be released from their chains. When we take stock of the world around us, the world in which we live today. We can see that evil is still mighty. Spiritual wickedness reigns in high places. The nations still sit in thick darkness. The dark places and habitations of the earth are full of cruelty still. But yet as Christian believers we can shout - Satan you can't prevail!! Because Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection has shaken the very foundation of hell. And every stone is sure to fall.
