"The angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and

rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." Matthew 28: 2

 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the fundamental truths, the cornerstone of the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul expressed it this way; "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." As Followers of Christ we believe with faith that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" Heb. 2:14-15, for since Jesus Christ is risen, the dead in Christ shall rise also,

 

In the early morning hours as the two women went towards the tomb to embalm the body of Jesus they debating as to how they would be able to move the heavy stone, , "Who shall roll us away the stone?” they asked. As the story goes on we read that God had everything under control, the stone was moved, Jesus was raised and death was defeated. But this is a story about the heavy stone.

 

A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over.

They stumble because they disobey the message;

they were destined for this. 1 Peter 2:8-9

 

"Who shall roll us away the stone?" There are heavy stones blocking the minds and hearts of many people who want to be free. Of many people who think they are free but are not totally free. In the resurrection story, the angel moved the stone away. In our story, the Holy Spirit will help us move the stones away that are blocking our path, the stones that could be tripping us up. The Holy Spirit calls us. When we respond with a receptive heart and open ears we hear the Gospel message, "Hear, and your soul shall live;" “Incline your ear, and come unto me.". This is the life-giving message, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

 

The True Gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to remove all the stones in your pathway. As the two women approached the tomb the first words the Angel said were “Fear not .” For followers of Christ, fear not sums up the Gospel.

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“Fear not ."

The past you need not fear, it is forgiven you;

the present you need not fear, it is provided for;

the future also is secured by the living power of Jesus.

 

"Because I live, ye shall live also." To be doubtful, and fearful, and trembling, now that Jesus has risen, is not consistent with being a Christian.

 

So we are to Fear not, death has been defeated, it has no hold on those who are in Christ. The resurrection of Christ is normally held to be a proof of the future resurrection of His followers. He is able to bestow eternal life on all those who put their trust in Him, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. The resurrection of Christ is specifically linked with His work in intercession in which Christ presents His petitions on behalf of weak and tempted Christians and intercedes for them before the throne of grace. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

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