The Sealed Stone Is Rolled Away
Or
Jesus Is Risen Indeed
Sunday August 27, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“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. 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. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.”
“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.’”
“So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.” Matthew 28.1-8
Something To Consider:
These two Mary’s were at the foot of the cross of Jesus without shame and without fear of retaliation. They were at the tomb of Jesus as Joseph and Nicodemus prepared the body of Jesus for burial. And again, early on the first day of the week these two Mary’s were found seeking Jesus at the tomb.
These women were determined to remain as close to Jesus as was possible, even after His death. And they were rewarded for their faithfulness by being the first among many early believers to witness firsthand the empty tomb. What about us? Have we spiritually witnessed in our hearts the true belief in an empty tomb? The record is clear and accurate!
What if for thought’s sake, Jesus did not rise from the grave? He would be no more than any religious hero or mystical guru who died and who now remains in their grave. But, concerning Jesus, the sealed tomb’s stone was rolled away by a guardian angel, and Jesus is risen indeed.
Something Else To Consider:
These two Mary’s also witnessed a great earthquake and the sudden and surprising appearance of an angel descending from heaven in order to roll away the stone that sealed the tomb from any entrance or exit, or at least that was the so-called religious leader’s plan.
The facial features of the angel were like lightning and his clothing was as white as freshly fallen snow. And he sat perched upon the once sealed stone surveying the scene. Seeing this angelic appearance, the guards shook for fear and became like dead men. The guards at the tomb were frozen solid by fearful unbelief and could not move a muscle.
Their hearts failed them for fear, but their eyes did not! These battle-hardened soldiers guarding the tomb were eyewitnesses of the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus. I can only wonder if what their eyes witnessed was enough convincing proof for their hearts to eventually believe in Jesus!
Hebrews 11.1 declares, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” A desperate father once brought a demon possessed son to Jesus and declared, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” Is that not the case with us on so many occasions? Lord, help our own human unbelief!
Something More To Consider:
The unbelieving guards standing in a graveyard became as dead men, for fear had so gripped their hearts and would not let go. But the angel answered and said to the truly believing women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
God has always made a distinction between believers and unbelievers. To the unbeliever He allowed fear to strike hard and fast. To the believer He comforted them by assuring them that there was nothing to fear. So, when was the last time we thanked the Lord that the stone was rolled away? Neither death nor the grave could hold Jesus. And one day that same awesome power will raise us up from the grave of death. And how glorious of a day that will be!
Paul speaking on the behalf of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8.38-39 and for the comfort of all believers, proclaimed; “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Why? Because the love of God was so convincingly demonstrated on the cross at Calvary. And take note, that the verse does not declare that these things cannot separate us from eternal life in Jesus Christ, but that these things cannot separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. There is a vast difference. We individually make the decision to be separated from eternal life in Jesus Christ. God declared that nothing could separate us from His love!
And also, according to Paul in Romans 10.17, “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” What is it therefore that we are listening to in our everyday lives? Are we listening to the eternal wisdom of the Word of God? Or are we listening to the lies and deception of evil men and their wicked and demonic schemes? This is eternally important! Jesus taught us, by stating; “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Are we observing and heeding the teachings and warnings of Jesus? And if not, why not?
A Few Final Words:
Does our heart still have a sealed stone separating us from the blessings of our God in and through Jesus Christ? Have we ever considered allowing God to roll that enormous and extremely influencing barrier away? Will we be able to proclaim with the apostle Paul at the end of our lives, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”?
Habakkuk 2.4 is quoted in Romans 1.17, Galatians 3.11, and also in Hebrews 10.38, “The just shall live by faith”. Therefore, are we living our earthly lives by faith in the divinely resurrected Jesus Christ? Are we hearing the truth of the Word of God in order to allow our faith to flourish rather than to fail out of unnecessary fear? And if not, why not?
Death could not hold Jesus, just as the grave could not keep Him from rising again from the dead, just as the sealing of the stone and the setting of the guard was overcome by the power and divine purpose of God. Are we living within the divine purpose of our Almighty God? And if not, then is He truly our God?
For according to Matthew’s eyewitness account, “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Have we spiritually witnessed the empty tomb by faith? And if not, how do we expect to rise from the grave?
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, may we go forth today and every day in great joy mixed with true biblical reverent fear in bringing others the true Word of God. May we be found exercising our own faith in truly believing the written and preserved account of Scripture concerning Jesus Christ. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 