“The Rolling Stone” (Easter 2024)

Do you know what Muhammed, Buddha, Confucius and Gandhi have in common? They were all founders of religions or the originator of a religious sect or tradition and they all died. None of them rose from the grave. None of them figured out a way to overcome death. None of their students or followers ever claimed any of these men rose from the dead either.

Jesus is different. He not only is the founder of our faith, He died, but He didn’t stay dead. Jesus defeated death, and rose from the grave. The Christian faith depends on it.

1 Corinthians 15:14 (NASB)

14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

The Bible tells us that there are over 500 eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (NASB)

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

Jesus rose from the grave. The Old Testament Scriptures predicted it. The New Testament eyewitnesses recorded for us in the Scriptures and they confirm it. This morning we are going to examine a few of these eye witness accounts in great detail. The account we are looking at tells us several people encountered Jesus after the crucifixion. Their story was told by Peter, recorded in writing by Mark, and all guided by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is found in Mark 16.

Mark 16:1–13 (NASB)

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. 5 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7 “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’ ” 8 They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 9 Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it. 12 After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13 They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.

The Rolling Stone.

(v. 1-4) 1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.

They couldn’t get to Jesus…there was an obstacle.

3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”

Matthew 27:62–66 (NASB)

62 Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ 64 “Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.

Matthew 28:4 (NASB) [There were guards at the tomb.]

4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

It was a huge obstacle.

3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”

4 …it was extremely large.

It was too big for them, but not too big for God!

Matthew 28:2 (NASB)

2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

They needed someone to remove the barrier.

3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”

But God had already take care of it!

4 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away…

Luke 24:2 (NASB)

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb…

John 20:1 (NASB)

…Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

The stone was an obstacle in the way. They couldn’t get to Jesus, but the stone had been rolled away. Not by them. Not by some other person. Not by chance. The barrier was removed by God.

How strange it must have seemed when they got there and found the stone had been rolled away. The rolling stone was odd, it was God.

They couldn’t get in to where Jesus was, but because God rolled away that stone, Jesus could get to where they were.

What obstacles are in the way between you and God?

Is it sin? Jesus died for your sins!

Have you allowed other people to get between you and God?

Is it hurt? Heartache? Pain? Sorrow? Jesus is the Prince of Peace!

The Rolling Stone is a reminder that even though the obstacle might be too big for us, it is never too big for God.

Jesus came to this earth.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Jesus came to set us free.

Jesus lived, died and rose again.

The stone was rolled away.

We couldn’t get to Jesus, so Jesus came to us.

The Risen Savior.

(v. 5-6, 8) 5 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him… 8 They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

(v. 9) 9 Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons…

John 20:11–17 (NASB)

11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ”

(v. 12) 12 After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country.

Luke 24:13–32 (NASB)

13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 “But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24 “Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”

We looked at the Rolling Stone.

We have looked at the Risen Savior.

Now let’s look at…

The Report Shared.

(v. 6-7) 6 And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7 “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’ ”

All the disciples abandoned Jesus at the crucifixion.

And Peter was especially unfaithful because He denied Jesus 3 times.

But notice who this message was directed to and especially to one person….

7 “But go, tell His disciples and Peter…

Romans 8:1 (NASB)

1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 10:13 (NASB)

13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

(v. 10-11) 10 She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.

John 20:18 (NASB)

18 Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

(v. 12-13) 12 After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13 They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.

Luke 24:33–35 (NASB)

33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Notice the joy in their sharing the report of Good News.

Notice the sense of urgency they had when sharing this report of Good News.

Notice also that the report was shared but not all of them believed.

Why?

Remember the rolling stone… they had obstacles in the way that only God could remove…

Luke 24:36–45 (NASB)

36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them. 44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Has God opened your mind today to understand the Scripture?

The Risen Savior is life, new life and eternal life.

John 11:25-26 (NASB)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

If you believe it, you and commit your life to Him you will be saved from your sins and given eternal life just as Jesus promised:

Romans 10:9–10 (NASB)

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

In Closing:

I am going to close with prayer and we are going to have a time of invitation. After I pray, we are going to sing one last song in worship of our Lord and Savior. If God is speaking to you today and drawing you to Himself, during that song, I invite you to get up out of your seat, come down one of these two isles, and talk with one of our pastors.

Maybe God is calling you to commit your life to Christ. You heard the message. You believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again, and you want Him to save you and to change you, to fill you with joy and give you hope. If that’s you, when start to sing, you come.

Maybe you have already commited your life to Christ before but you’ve drifted away and your found yourself here today and God is calling you to come back to Him. When we sing, maybe you need to get up, come up here, get in line and ask for prayer, repent, and return to the Lord.

Maybe you need prayer for something else. Maybe it is one of those obstacles I was talking about. You can come up here and one of our pastors will pray with you.

In am going to pray and then you respond and God leads.

Memory Verse of the Week:

John 11:25 (NASB)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies...