Matthew 27: 57-66
"When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, names Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher. Now the next day, that followed the day of preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch."
Text - Verse 66 - "So they went and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch."
"The title for the message today will be - Stones In His Pathway.
Let us take our minds for a few moments and go back into the wilderness where Jesus was led of the Spirit to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4: 1-11) "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."
"Jesus was hungry. He had not eaten for 40 days and nights. Satan said to Him -"If thou be the Son of God command this stone that it be made bread." The devil knows how to attack us at our weakest points. But, this time he had met The Master. The is NO weak point in Him. He was tempted in all points such as we are....yet, without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Jesus is stronger in His weakest moments than the devil is at the height of his power. Friends - remember that when the devil gives you a hard time.
Stones to bread would have satisfied the tempter - but, not our Lord. He had not come to satisfy His own needs but to be "The Bread Of Life" for hungry souls. He was Himself The Bread Of Life.
Again the devil saith unto Him - Cast thy self down from the pinnacle so thou wilt not dash thyself against a stone. For it is written: He will give his angels charge over thee. Jesus said, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Jesus did not fear cutting His feet with stones. He knew that cruel nails would pierce them. He knew He would suffer. But, He would suffer doing the Father's will - not the will of Satan or the will of mere men. The devil did all he could, in his power to keep Jesus from the Cross. He put many stones in His pathway. But, Jesus knew that it was the Cross at Calvary that He must die for your sins and mine. (John 3:16)
Remember with me the time when the Jews argued with Jesus concerning the greatness of their Father Abraham (St. John 8: 52-59) and Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. And they took up stones to cast at him......" However, Jesus disappeared from their midst. On other occasions they tried to stone Jesus to death but they fail. For Jesus had not come to die by stoning...but, He came to be lifted up on a Cross. He said in St. John 12:32 - "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Thank God for the mighty magnetic power of the Savior of the world. Thank God for the Blood that was shed in that hour for the sins of ALL who will turn to Him. His Blood never has nor will it ever lose its power. Blood is the remedy for ALL sin. Satan failed to feed Jesus with bread from stones and men have failed to put Him to death by stoning!
Our text above says that Jesus now lay lifeless in a tomb. The tomb was sealed by a massive stone. Stones in His pathway. The stony hearts of evil men thought their mission was accomplished. They thought that Jesus would not disturb them any more....He who claimed to be the Son of God was dead.
Jesus body was safe in a tomb....sealed with a great stone.....and a watch guard set. Who would dare to break the seal? What they did not know what that there was no need to break the seal. Hallelujah! If the angel had not rolled back the stone they would have continued to guard an empty tomb. Jesus was not there. He is risen! Our Creator is not ever at the mercy of His creation. He took up His life without disturbing the grave clothes and passed through the sealed stone like it didn't even exist. You may have questioned in the past what kind of glorified bodies we will have......we will have glorified bodies just like that of our Lord! The natural body of Jesus dissolved within its wrappings and merged forth a spiritual body....a resurrection body.
Heaven did not move the stone so that our Lord could get out. The stone was moved so that men could get in and see for themselves. Knowing the unbelief of the stony hearts of men and the doubts which arise in their minds and hearts, God sent an angel to roll back the stone....as if to say, "Now, do you believe?" (St. John 20: 1-10) In Verse 8 we read, "Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed."
But, do you know that with all the mighty miracle power our Lord has; even to pass through the stone to show Himself alive.....If you are a lost sinner and you do not know Christ as Savior and Lord; you have not given your heart to Him, then you are DEAD? Your soul is in a tomb, sealed with a stone. A stony heart of unbelief and rebellion. A stone in your pathway.
Our resurrected, living Lord cannot penetrate that stone......unless, YOU invite Him in.
There is one stone in His pathway that only you can move. You cannot be resurrected unto life until He comes in. And, He will not come in until you invite Him in. He will remove the stony heart and cause you to become a lively stone built up into a spiritual house. He will make you a new creature in Christ and a partaker of His divine nature. Today, please accept and make Jesus the stone (that the builders rejected).... the head of the corner. Let Him be that ROCK on which you trust stand.
Are you ready to BELIEVE and trust?
Are you ready to let Jesus come into your stony heart?
He has done all that he can do. He has overcome every stone in His pathway - but, now He waits on you.
"Choose ye this day who ye will serve. (Joshua 24:15)
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