PULPITMAN.COM "My whole intent in living here is to make God smile." (Gianna Jessen)
(Easter)
The Tomb Mark 16:1-8
Delivered to Smith Chapel UMC on April 12, 2009
What I Didn't Say
The Stone--One day when I was in Israel, we were on a bus leaving Jerusalem. Our guide told us we would be slowing down for us to get a look at a family tomb that was dug out of the rock on the hillside beside the road. That's a picture of it to my right, your left (yes, I'm looking at you).
The importance of it was that it was similar to the one in which Jesus was buried. I can see why it seemed so impossible for the women to move the stone. It was simply a big slab shaped into the form of a wheel. Once that would be rolled down into place, you'd have to be Hercules to roll it back up.
It made me think of Bob Bennett's song, "Still Rolls the Stone." Jesus' stone was rolled away and He continues to roll our stones away. The boulders and obstacles in our lives that would keep us from salvation and service in the Kingdom of God can only be rolled away by the power of God. And roll them He does.
