Mark 16:1-8
The resurrection of Jesus Christ.
By His resurrection this is who He proved Himself to be.
The stone being moved
Who will roll away the stone for us at the entrance of the tomb?
What does the stone represent?
It symbolizes the inevitable obstacles that life brings our way.
The stone stood in their way.
This stone also symbolizes the sense of futility we sometimes feel about ourselves.
That sense of being up against something bigger than yourself
The stone also represents a dreadful finality.
The dream is over.
Have you ever felt the dread of finality?
NO.
We all know there's more to the story than that.
Each of the gospels includes a reference to the stone being moved and the tomb being empty.
Why was it moved?
This stone doesn't mean what you think it means Jesus is alive.
1. This barrier isn’t nearly as big as it appears to be.
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This obstacle that has been placed in your path is not as permanent as it appears.
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God is greater than any stone that may stand in your way.
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God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
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I want you to know that stone was made to move, that rock was made to roll.
2. You are not as helpless as you might think.
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But God is ready to do for us
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I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
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There is no stone that His power cannot move.
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But you don't have to set yourself up for failure.
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"Then you haven't done everything you can do."
3. This story — your story — isn’t over yet, no matter how it may seem.
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We know now that it turned about to be just the beginning of the real story.
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This is not going to be the end of my book.
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"It's just beginning."
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Jesus didn't stay in the grave ... and neither must you.
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The message of Easter is a loud and resounding YES.
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A new chapter in your life is ready to begin.