2010-2-7
“The Stone Rolled Away”
John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
Jesus rose from the dead and they found the stone had been taken away! On the surface it does not sound like much but what a story the Word of God brings when one realizes the rolling away of the stone. We have talked about the finished work of Christ on the cross. However, without the resurrection power of Christ it would have been an innocent man had sadly been convicted. Praise the Lord they found an empty tomb!
Luke 24:1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
It is something how they found the stone rolled away! Mary, Salome and Mary came to the tomb to bring spices only to find an empty tomb. It is amazing these women are the first witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus.
Mark 16:1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away; for it was very large.
Here in Mark we find them discussing how will they get that stone rolled away? Again we find the word the stone had been rolled away!
Matthew 28:1 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.
Thank God for the rolling away of the stone. Because of Jesus, the way into the holy place had come! Because of Jesus, the sin of all the world had been atoned for! The crucified one had now fulfilled the purpose of coming to earth.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Jesus the propitiation; Jesus the atonement provided for the sins of the world. Thank God for the rolling away of the stone so the world could see a resurrected Savior!
Josh 5:7 Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed. 9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.
This old Testament verse is where the circumcising of the children who came through the wilderness and had now arrived in the promised land. The name Gilgal means rolling away. Physical circumcision was how the children of Israel declared they belonged in covenant with the one true God. However this was an awesome rolling away of the reproach of Egypt for the nation Israel ! Egypt represented slavery, and it came with great reproach having evil and harsh task masters. Like sin enslaves men today there can be a rolling away of the stone and instead of finding death there is life. The reproach of Egypt came with shame and guilt fear and uncertainty. Not only was it slavery of the body but it also came with a mindset of being a slave. God has brought His people away from the slavery of Egypt but the reproached remained in their hearts and mind. God wanted to prepare them for the conquest ahead taking the promise land. He had to remove the reproach that still enslaved them. Much the same way the rolling away of the stone from the empty tomb came in order that we might know the victory had been won by Christ alone!
Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem . 48 "And you are witnesses of these things. 49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
Because of the Crucified One the reproach of sin can be broken! There is repentance and remission of sins because of the most holy name of Jesus. Churches that are not preaching repentance and remission of sins in the name of Jesus are false churches! When the angel of Lord brought that earthquake to roll the stone away it was the best news. It is the gospel! Repentance and remission of sin is found in Jesus Christ alone! You too can be set free from slavery. Not only can you be set free from sin but God wants to give you a mind set that causes you to walk free from sins reproach!
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Many preach the generic version of this passage and say the truth shall make you free; however, THE TRUTH that sets you free is if the Son Jesus Christ sets you free from the slavery of sin, you are free indeed! This is the specific truth. Notice the slave can be sold out of the house but a son abides forever.
Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Because the stone was rolled away there is freedom to be found in Jesus Christ! Because the stone was rolled away you can cry out Abba Father!
When one comes to true salvation they die to sin and become alive unto God. Sin shall not have dominion over this one because they are not under law but under grace.
Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here is the way for complete victory over sin! Jesus set you free from sin at the cross of Calvary . Jesus died to sin once for all and the life He lives, He lives to God. LIKEWISE YOU ALSO, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is a faith issue many believers have not learned to walk in. Recognizing that you died to sin in order to come to Christ. The dying daily is an issue of faith believing that Jesus dying for sin and living to God is enough! If you have never come to the Roman 6:7 experience you have never been born again! The object of your faith ever remaining in Jesus the crucified one. Many believers have a need to renew their mind with this awesome truth! Our old man was crucified and now we are new creations in Christ Jesus. We are called to renew our mind and agree with the degree of freedom from sin Jesus has declared. This is when we can put on the new man which was created in holiness and true righteousness.
The stone was rolled away for you! He who the Son sets free is free indeed!
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