WHO SHALL ROLL AWAY THE STONE?

SERIES: RESURECTION SUNDAY

TEXT: MARK 16:1-8

Mark tells us that when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices to prepare Jesus’ body for burial.

• Early Sunday morning, certain women came to Jesus tomb to anoint His body properly as it was hurriedly done on Friday. But there was a big question on their lips, “WHO SHALL ROLL AWAY THE STONE?”
• When they got to the tomb, the stone had already been rolled away, but not by man power. It was God’s power. An angel of the Lord had rolled the stone away.
• All their worries and concerns over the problem of the stone had been needless. God had things under control.
• Their tears, sadness, doubts and fears had been needless too.
• Jesus was not dead! “He is risen, just as He had said to them.”
• The same God is active in our lives too.
• The Passover gives us the opportunity each year to revisit the empty tomb and be reminded of the power of God, who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine-Eph. 3:20.
• Satan thought it was over for Jesus and the redemption of man.
• This day of resurrection became the beginning of victory for man and a day of great accomplishment for Christ Jesus. Let us learn:-

IT WAS A DECISION OF FAITH

• These were women of faith as stated in Hebrews 11:35, they decided to go and try rather than staying away like the men did.
• These women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome had followed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus as they buried Jesus Christ on Good Friday.
• These women watched as they wrapped the body in linen.
• They saw Joseph place the body of Jesus in the tomb.
• They stood there and watched as the stone was rolled into place.
• They watched as the soldiers took their positions to guard the tomb. They watched as the officials of the Roman government put a seal on the tomb.
• This Sunday very early in the morning, these women were grieving and devastated.
• They had seen how their Lord Jesus Christ had been murdered, stripped naked and laid in the grave.
• Their greatest worry this Sunday morning was the heavy stone laid at the entrance, the Roman soldiers and the Roman seal which could not be broken.
• This stone rolled into place signified for them the end of Jesus life and ministry.
• This stone was a symbol of the end of their hopes and dreams for a new life.
• The stone sealed the tomb, it was an obstacle but these women walked to the tomb by faith.
• We all have stones which prevent us from reaching out in faith to Jesus Christ.
• We cannot remove these stones with our own power, but God is able to roll away the stones, even today.
• God rolled away the stone of death and replaced it forever with eternal life with God.
• There is no stone too heavy the Lord cannot remove.
• The stone was rolled away by God. What is your particular stone today?

IT WAS A PROBLEMATIC DISTRACTION

• But what are stones? Stones are major objects for obstruction, they are impediments, they block ones view, they make one to stumble, they block ones path and make advancement difficult.
• Every stone blocking your path shall either be crushed or you will sit on it in Jesus name.
• God will not let your stone dictate your life, you shall see their end.
• These three women coming to the tomb of Jesus that Sunday morning were bothered by three things;-

1. The stone at the entrance of the tomb was huge.
2. The Roman soldiers were cruel and battle hardened.
3. The Roman government seal could not be broken.

• But when the women arrived at the tomb, the stone had already been rolled away. The Roman soldiers had run away and other had fallen down as dead. The Roman seal had been broken and torn into pieces.
• Consequently those monitoring the movement with evil plans and intentions shall be shattered.
• May your enemies abandon your case and hide forever in Jesus name.
• There are several situations in life that can represent the great stone that needed to be rolled away.
• There are things that can block your path of progress preventing you from fulfilling your purpose and destiny and things working against fullness of joy in your life.
• The kingdom of darkness is the main source of stones and obstacles.
• The goodness is that only one power can roll away the stone and that is the power of the Holy Spirit.
• The same power which raised Jesus from the dead.
• By the power of the resurrection, every stone is rolled away in your life in Jesus name.

1. The deliverance at the Red Sea in Exodus 14.

• The Egyptian army was pursuing the children of Israel, there were mountain on either side and the Red Sea was infront of their eyes!
• However, the Red Sea was parted and the Egyptian army was drowned in the Red Sea.
• The stone against them was rolled away.
• In the same order, ever Pharaoh and army that are stubbornly pursuing you trying to force you into captivity of your past will be drowned in Jesus name.

2. The miraculous restoration of abundance in the city of Samaria- 2^nd Kings 7:1-20.

• God supernaturally rolled away the stone of scarcity, lack, pains, hunger and sufferings in the city of Samaria within 24hours.
• After the order of the city of Samaria, the power of the Most High God will restore all your losses and give you supernatural abundance in Jesus name.
• Are you faced with stone of poverty or lack of any kind? God is able to roll away poverty and lack.

3. The victory the Lord granted His people over Goliath.

• Goliath was a stronger than anyone in Israel. The challenge they had was who will represent them in the battle. God used a lad (David) to roll the stone (Goliath) away.
• The same power that God used against Goliath is available to you today.
• Every strong man challenging your life today shall be defeated in the name of Jesus Christ.
• The God who delivers the weak from the hands of the mighty, shall deliver you.

4. The raising of Lazarus from the dead.

• When Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick, He said the sickness was not unto death, but to the glory of God.
• Lazarus died and was buried four days before Jesus arrived.
• The stone that blocked the entrance to the grave of Lazarus had to be rolled away.
• Any stone that may be hindering the glory of God from being manifested shall be rolled away from your life in Jesus name.

IT WAS A POWERFUL DOMINION

• As the women approached the tomb, they discovered that their main problem had been taken care of.
• Someone is here today, you are bothered by “a huge stone” that is not allowing your progress by the power of the Holy Spirit, your stone is hereby rolled away in the name of Jesus Christ.
• The stone and the tomb of Jesus Christ were a shame and reproach to Him while He lay there.
• The Jews were celebrating that He was gone finally.
• The Roman government was happy that Jesus Christ was out of their way.
• But thank God that it was long for the enemies of Jesus Christ to celebrate. The power of the Holy Spirit set Him free.
• Jesus Christ rose up in a glorious body and became unstoppable.
• In the same order, may the power of the Holy Spirit set you free from every hold of shame and reproach in your life in Jesus name.
• May God disappoint those who are rejoicing against you in your present condition in Jesus Name- Micah 7:8.
• The Bible says “That will be the portion in every area of your life in Jesus name.

CONCLUSION

• What is the burden that you are carrying today?
• Jesus Christ rolls away all burdens and cares. No stone is too heavy for our Lord to roll away. Because He lives and you and I can face tomorrow.
• Family problems, marriage problems, rebellious children, drug addiction, sexual immorality, financial problems, sickness and diseases- Jesus Christ rolls away every stone.
• Jesus Christ sets the prisoners free, He breaks away chains.
• Satan will not prevail because Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection has shaken the very foundation of hell and every stone must surely fall.
• The stone was rolled away and the Angels sat on it to proclaim, “He is not here, He is risen” Hallelujah was a Savior.