Sunday, 4/20/2025

The Stone Was Rolled Away

Mark 16:1–8 (ESV) When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, 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 that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

“Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” (v. 3).

The women didn’t turn back. 

Trust that God will help you get it done once you get to the hard part.

The Resurrection of Jesus, now as then, unblocks entrances. It rolls stones away.

It is little wonder then that Christian faith is concerned about unblocked entrances: open doors.

John 10:9 “I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”.

Rev. 3:8 “Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut”. 

The stone of weakness was removed.

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him,” Paul wrote, “and the power of his resurrection”.

The authors of the New Testament often wrote of living in the power of the resurrection.

The gift of the Holy Spirit was tied up with the resurrection.

Acts 2:2–4 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The good news is that the Resurrection of Jesus has rolled away the stone of weakness so that we can enter upon power.

The stone of doubt was rolled away.

Thomas is the classical example of doubt on the first Easter. 

John 20:25 “We have seen the Lord! ”Thomas, being troubled with doubt,

responded: “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe”.

John 20:28 “My Lord and my God!”. 

Hear the truth this morning: “Christ is risen.”

We know of no reality with more convincing evidence than the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The stone of guilt was taken away.

We would enter upon forgiveness, but the entrance is blocked by the stone of guilt. 

Forgiveness is inextricably linked to the resurrection. 

1 Cor. 15:17 “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins”.

Revelation 1:5–6 “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen”.

The risen Christ has freed us from our sins by His own blood. 

Our being forgiven is related to our willingness to forgive. 

This does not mean that we earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving our brothers. 

The stone of death has been removed.

Easter comes again to us where we are trapped, assuring us that the way to strength, faith, forgiveness, and life has been unblocked. 

Jesus is Risen! Jesus is Alive! He is still redeeming those who will turn to Him in faith! He is still rolling boulders out of our way.