CHECK THE ROCK REPORT

Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

The Easter story started with Jesus experiencing a betrayal, a humiliating trial, a beating and the horror and agony of the cross.

His broken, lifeless body was taken down from the cross, tenderly wrapped in linen, and laid in the borrowed tomb of a rich man named Joseph. A huge stone was rolled over the mouth of the tomb – locking in Jesus and locking out all light and life.

For three days, the cold stone of grief weighed down the disciples’ heart.

For three days, the rock of fear locked them behind closed doors

For three days, the granite slab of bewilderment and hopelessness kept them from believing for a better future.

Though the stone of death had locked Jesus into the tomb, it might have well been rolled across every disciple’s life as well. For each one, Peter, John, Thomas, Mary….they all cowered in darkness; they hid in doubt and fear. Any promise or hope was crushed by that tomb-stone. There was no way out…

Perhaps that where you are at in your own Easter story today….

…...the stone of sin, of addiction, of fear, of despair, or doubt has locked you in your own cold dark tomb.

And the Devil has put his seal of death over your dream, your marriage, your finances, your children and guarded it with his minions to make sure you stay there in that tomb.

But before you decide to shrivel up and die there; before you give in and give up…..Check out the rock report! Because if the rock has rolled……it means you too have risen!

Mark 16:2-4 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.