The Cross, The Tomb, The Stone

Matthew 28:1-8 “1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”

Introduction

The ground shook, darkness took daylight over and the earth shook with a powerful earthquake. The veil in the temple has been torn in two. Jesus has been crucified. He has died on the cross. His body was placed in a tomb that was sealed with a large stone.

Without Jesus, there would be a cross, without a cross, there wouldn’t be a tomb; without a tomb, there wouldn’t be a stone; without a stone there wouldn’t be an empty tomb and without an empty tomb we would be people without hope.

We have hope through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus had to be crucified, hung on a cross, die, be buried in a tomb and resurrected in order for the ones who believe in Him to have hope of eternal life.

The Cross

The cross is worn around the neck, hung from ear lobes as earrings, and tattooed on bodies as fashion statements and trends. Some people who wear the cross believe in what happened to Jesus on the cross and some are either wearing it for a fashion statement, or doing it because everyone else is.

The cross has become offensive to unbelievers and some hate it. So much so that some people are suing to have the cross removed from public buildings and on private property. And there are some who hate it inwardly - in their heart.

Before Jesus died on that rugged cross it was just two pieces of wood fastened together. It was just a cross that was used to execute criminals in the justice system in those days.

Since Jesus died on the cross, it has become a symbol of forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope.

The cross became an inspiration for some songs like “Keep Me Near the Cross” and “At The Cross”.

The Tomb

Without the tomb, the cross would’ve remained something material. Something used to kill Jesus and evil would’ve won. Just as the cross is important to our faith, the tomb He was buried in is too.

A tomb is where dead people go and never come out. Even some of His disciples thought that once He went in, He wasn’t coming out.

Do we really understand that when Jesus died His heart stopped beating, He stopped breathing and His brain stopped functioning, and His body became cold to the touch?

Jesus didn’t faint, He wasn’t paralyzed or slipped into a coma, He was dead!

For three days His lifeless body laid in that tomb.

Once a body is laid in a tomb, what happens is...nothing accept the body starting to decompose.

A body that perishes went in the tomb, and a body that is imperishable came out of the tomb!

The tomb belonged to a man named Joseph who was a prominent citizen. He allowed Jesus to be buried in his tomb which he had already paid for. Jesus was placed in a borrowed tomb.

When something is loaned and borrowed, the provider usually expects it to be returned. Well the tomb was returned to Joseph because Jesus only needed it for three days.

The Stone

The stone that sealed the tomb where Jesus laid was a huge chunk of limestone that was cut to fit tightly against the opening of the tomb where Jesus laid.

They sealed the stone to the tomb and there were guards posted at the tomb and their job was to keep someone from coming to the tomb and stealing Jesus’ body. It is written in Matthew 27:57-66 about how the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and asked that he command the tomb be sealed and made secure because of what Jesus said; “After three days I will rise.”

The stone is very important to our faith because of this reason:

The stone was impossible for one man to move it, and there were guards stationed outside of the tomb. It would’ve been impossible for anyone to come steal Jesus’ body.

Always remember this passage of scriptures written in Matthew 28:4 “And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.” And in Matthew 28:13 “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.” They even bribed the guards to lie!

The stone was rolled away, Jesus folded the wraps and napkin and the tomb had to let Him go!

Conclusion

What does the cross, the tomb, the stone, and Jesus being raised from the dead mean to us?

What has the reason for this day and the message caused you to think about?

Have you thought about the suffering Jesus went through on that cross for us?

Have you thought about Jesus carrying that cross all the way to Golgotha, the hill called Calvary?

Have you thought about the 110 pound cross Jesus carried over 650 yards after losing a lot of blood from the extended beatings and tortures He had to endure?

Have you thought about the tomb and the stone that was sealed and the guards standing paralyzed in fear as an angel from heaven came and rolled the stone away?

That stone represents an obstacle. But not to Jesus. Just like Jesus was able to walk past that stone, He can help us get past whatever is keeping us from being fully committed to Him. He is an obstacle-mover! A way-maker! A light in the darkness! He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is our:

SAVIOR, REDEEMER, BREAD OF LIFE, LORD, CREATOR, SON OF THE LIVING GOD, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, BELOVED SON, HOLY ONE OF ISREAL, WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE, AND KING OF KINGS!

Have you thought about how high Jesus was on the cross, from the ground and on a hill? How He could be seen from a distance? And what He said in John 12:32? “If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me”.

Does it matter that Jesus was obedient to God’s will to be sacrificed as a lamb for the atonement of our sins?

Does today make you want to be ready to be caught up to meet Him in the air when He returns?

DID what you heard today make you want to run and tell somebody? You ought to run and tell that?

***SONG “YOU OUGHT TO RUN AND TELL THAT!!!

Because of Jesus, the cross, the tomb and the stone, we can live the rest of our lives in peace with God and have hope and assurance that we too will live again!

INVITATION TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP (DISCIPLESHIP) WITH JESUS!