Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: He still rolls away stones

Text: Mark 16:1-8

 

*Background*: Here we have in our text the Savior of the world had just died on the Cross.

The Gospel of Mark records one of Jesus final words from the Cross, /Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?/

which means “/My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”?/

Those who heard the cry thought that he was calling out to Elijah for help as Jewish tradition tells us.

They offered him sour wine as a sedative for his anguish.

And then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and breathed his last breathe and gave up the ghost.

Then temple veil ripped from top to bottom.

When the nearby Centurion saw what happened, he could not help but to say “truly this is the son of God.

There were women there witnessing this heinous crime from afar.

They also witnessed where they buried our Lord which was in a borrowed tomb and rolled a stone against the tombs door.

That stone was to prevent any followers from coming to steal his body away.

That stone was used to keep what was inside sealed from the outside world.

That stone was used to block off the last rest stop for a Jesus dead.

However, they did not know who they were burying behind that stone.

It is here we enter our message.

It is here we see the mission of 3 faithful women.

*Mission** of the Women*

vv.

1-2

The Sabbath is now past.

Three faithful women were now able to show their devotion to their Savior.

This band of faithful women was comprised of Mary, Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene, the woman who Jesus cast out the devils and Salome the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

It was early Sunday morning and they were going to prepare the Jesus’ dead body with ceremonial anointing oil and spices.

I would like to applaud these women for their faithfulness and devotion to the Lord.

They were on there way to honor our Lord and Savior.

He has done so much for them and they were coming to give this dead man respect and a proper home going.

They took a risk of running into Roman soldiers who may have been guarding a tomb of a so called criminal.

But out love they were willing to risk it all for the one they loved.

How many of us would take such a risk to show such a devotion to Jesus.

It is risky business to follow Jesus but it is worth it!

Somebody today took risk by coming to church to see if Jesus is worth it.

Risk is nothing to faith to the world.

God honors our risk.

In v. 3, as they were on their way to the tomb they ask among themselves, “who will roll away the stone from the tomb for us?”

In deed these women, knew the obstacle that was ahead of them.

They knew that individually and collectively they did not have the strength to move the stone that prevented them from get to Jesus.

It was a barrier that blocked them from getting to their goal.

For these women this was a stone of doubt because they thought that they may not be able to get by it.

It was stone of distraction because it hindered them from getting to the one they love.

It was a stone of defeat because they believed their hope was now dead.

The stone was in their way.

/Have you ever had anything in your way that hindered you and the people close to you that you could not do anything about/?

My brothers and sisters, all of us deal with stones of doubt, distraction and defeat one time or another in our lives.

These stones are insurmountable barriers that impede your progress: they are stones of poverty stones of hurt and pain, stones of depression, stones of unforgiveness, stones of lost dreams, which hold you back and need to be removed so you can be who God called us to be.   

*Surprise for the women*

Next in v. 4, these women had a *surprise* when they got to the tomb.

When they got to the tomb they looked up and the stone was rolled away.

They did not touch it.

They did not employ anyone help to move it for them.

All that the bible says about this situation is that they looked up and the stone was rolled away.

My brothers and my sisters, whenever you have a situation that is too big for you to handle, it is always good to look up.

/Look up to the hills which cometh your help your help comes from the Lord/.

Don’t look anywhere else but up.

If you look inside yourself you will get depressed.

If you look around you will get distracted.

If you look back you will get defeated.

Look up to Jesus he is the author and finisher of your faith.

They looked up and noticed the stone was rolled away.

We don’t know how according to the text.

All we know that it was out of the way.

But this tells us how stones are removed in our lives.

God has a way of getting them out of our lives that we don’t even know how.

/Have you ever had a problem that was there at one time but the next time you looked it disappeared?/

God had already worked it out.

A problem on your job one minute but you remained faithful and the next time you had to deal with it God had already work it out!

Problems with your finances and the next thing you knew God already work it out.

God has away of removing people, places and things that hinder us that we don’t know any thing about.

All I can tell is that he sends angels to go before to watch and protect his children.

After that…

*Message to the women:*

In v. 5, they entered the tomb expecting to see the body of their dead leader.

They anticipated that He would be their so they can give proper homage to their Savior.

But when they went in the tomb they had a surprise waiting for them.

They saw a young man in a white robe sitting on the right side and they were scared.

This man was an angel sent on assignment with a message for these faithful followers.

In verse 6, the angel says to them “/be not afraid”, “You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified, He is risen!

He is not here!

Look at the place where they laid him/”.

These women were expecting to find a dead Jesus but they discovered when they got there He was a Risen Lord!

They thought it was going to be one way but upon arrival they discovered something different.

/Have you ever expected one thing and got something better than what you expected/?

You thought that the person that you loaned some money to when they were in a bind that they would do the same in your time of need but they didn’t.

However, you received unexpected check in the mail.

You thought you were saving up to move in a better apartment but God opened away for you to buy your first house.

You just wanted to come to church sit quiet but God elevated to serve in a ministry that not only blesses others but it blesses you!

There are some unexpected blessings when you follow after Jesus.

God doesn’t always come how you want him come.

You just have to be open enough to say “any way you bless me Lord I will be satisfied”.

These women expected one thing and got something else.

They did not get a dead body but they got a message.

That was “/he is not dead, he as risen”/.

This is where the entire Gospel hangs!

Jesus is yet alive!

This is the good news, He lives!

Because he lives you can face tomorrow!

These women had a message from God through a messenger.

My beloved, God is giving you a message today.

If were looking for Jesus is a dead place, He is not there!

Some of us are living in some dead places and working on some dead jobs.