Who Will Roll The Stone Away?

"Who will Roll the Stone Away?"

Text: Mark 16:1-3;Mt.28:1-10 & Selected

Cross Creek Community Church

Pastor Dave Martin - Easter Sunday, April 15, 2001

www.crosscreekcc.org

God’s Word is Powerful, Relevant, and Life Changing!

Mark 16:1-3 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. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

We all go through life collecting, sorting, and storing information, which comes into our lives. Our brain is wonderfully complex, which is able to digest things or reject things.

What was capturing the thoughts of the women that first Easter Sunday? I’m sure they had many thoughts of Jesus running through their minds early that morning. Let’s look at what might have been running through their minds...as they were walking toward the tomb...

They may have been Pondering...

The miraculous Birth of Jesus.

* Born of a virgin, born in a stable in Bethlehem. Unlike a pompous king.

* Lowly shepherds visited by the angels, the Wisemen coming from afar.

* As the Christ child, we see how King Herod tried to kill Him.

* Their minds were full of the many things, which has transpired...

The miracles and ministry of Jesus.

* He actually walked on water. He calmed the storms.

* He fed 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish.

* He healed the blind, the lame, and the sick. He even raised people back from the dead!

* Why even Mary Magdalene remembers how Jesus drove 7 demons out of her.

* I’m sure it was all racing through their minds that morning.

The growing tension and adversity against Jesus.

* They remembered how the religious people kept trying to trick Him.

* How the religious people even said He was possessed by a demon.

* Jesus was accused of blasphemy because He rightly claimed that He was God in the flesh.

* I’m sure it was all racing through their minds that morning.

The triumphal entry into Jerusalem of Jesus.

* Millions of people in Jerusalem for the Passover.

* Just a few days earlier Jesus rode into Jerusalem.

* Not on a stallion but a donkey. The King of kings, the Creator of the universe.

* Why if the people don’t cry out then the stones would.

* Wow - what a wonderful day that was. So much hope and excitement.

* I’m sure it was all racing through their minds that morning.

The arrest and suffering of Jesus.

* Probably hearing about the Last Supper and how Judas betrayed Him.

* Wondering about the agonizing time of prayer in the garden - then his arrest.

* Talking with Peter and how he denied Him three times, others scattered.

* The scourging, the stripping of His clothes, the purple robe, the mocking, the crown of thorns, the spitting, I’m sure it was all racing through their minds that morning.

The Crucifixion and burial of Jesus.

* The pain, the awfulness of a crucifixion, the suffering Jesus went through.

* They could hardly recognize Jesus because of the cruel beatings He received.

* The Son of God being treated this way - sinful man slaying the Lamb of God.

* Standing back watching the soldiers nail Him to the cross at 9am in the morning.

* Thinking of the sun going dark from noon until 3pm.

* With Jesus crying out, they remembered His last dying words upon the cross.

* They remembered the quaking of the earth, rocks splitting open. It sure was a scary time.

* Even the Roman centurion guard, said, "surely this is the Son of God!"

* They were thinking of Jesus’ burial late Friday. With two secret followers burying Him.

Now early Sunday morning as they neared the tomb, with all these thoughts swirling around in their heads, they ask each other, "Who will roll the stone away?"

Most people thought Jesus was "dead and gone"...

Pilate thought Jesus was "dead and gone".

Herod thought Jesus was "dead and gone".

Satan himself thought Jesus was "dead and gone".

Religious Pharisees thought Jesus was "dead and gone".

The demons thought Jesus was "dead and gone".

Many of Jesus’ followers thought Jesus was "dead and gone".

"Who will Roll the Stone Away?" - (The song "ARISE, MY LOVE" is played - using sub woffer) Very moving song!

The POWER of the TRINITY is seen in the RESURRECTION!

Gal. 1:1; Jn. 10:17-18; 1Pet. 3:18

On Easter Sunday about 2000 years ago Jesus Christ was resurrected. He is not dead, He is ALIVE! If there was no resurrection, we are still lost in our sins, without hope in this world. The resurrection means many things, this morning we will look at a few.