The Stone Is Rolled – Sermon 20 April, 2014

The Stone is Rolled

John 20:1-18

The resurrection story is the foundation upon which our faith and hope is based.

It is simply, yet profoundly, summarised in three points:

– Christ has died.

– Christ has risen.

– Christ will come again.

These familiar words about Christ have echoed through the ages, affirming our belief. We generally hear these words within the bounds of a church, in a gathering of the church or on a Church Notice Board.

But what if we were reading this story for the very first time?

If we do not know the ending of the story, we bring our assumptions and knowledge to this story, much like Mary.

Mary came to the tomb fully expecting it to be as she left it. Instead she found the stone had been moved away, so she ran to find the disciples and tell them what had happened. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:2).

Scripture does not say she looked into the tomb, not like Peter and the other disciple. Mary assumed she knew what had happened by her first impressions.

We do the same ourselves at times.

A man lived in a refrigerator box in the alley of one of the major cities. He was dirty, unshaven and hidden. Many were afraid of him and took great care to avoid that area when they were around. But a  made an acquaintance with the man. He even helped the man find a job. He told people, “Life is so strange. I am surprised that man would take the job of dishwasher and be grateful—a job completely below his education and ability.” It was shocking to know that he had a PhD in some field of physics! A divorce and subsequent depression had resulted in his current situation.

We base our assumptions on appearance.

We are guilty of usually making assumptions based upon our perceptions and stereotypes taught to us by family and people around us. If we assume we know how another person feels or thinks without giving that person the opportunity to speak for him or herself, we are wrong.

Mary saw the stone gone and accused “them” of removing Jesus’ body.

A first-time reader may need to be reminded of who “they” are. It is not unusual for people to expect certain actions from their enemies and blame them with hasty certainty. The distrust and animosity is based upon experience and past history.

Too often, our distrust colours our perceptions. We teach that same distrust to others, much like the politicians who gush out words about those who are in opposition to divide and attract voters to their side.

When the disciples came running to see what Mary was talking and crying about, they were able to go directly into the tomb to see for themselves. Indeed, Jesus was gone. The stone no longer blocked their way or their vision.

What is blocking our way to see Jesus?

A person reading this story for the first time would have great difficulty believing a person could be dead and is now alive. Our job, in making disciples for Christ, is to be like “them” and help remove any stone that may block others from accepting Christ as their Saviour.

For us, as Christians, it may also be the time to look honestly at a stone that may be blocking our way to put our full trust in God and complete transformation.

When we become Christians, we become new creatures. Many times I find there are areas in which we do not completely trust Christ. We set up our own stones.

Let me use money as an example. We may trust Christ completely when it comes to time, how to raise our kids, respect for others, prayer, dealing with enemies, and study of God’s word. But when it comes to money, we hold back that portion of our lives. We may justify our actions by believing that God doesn’t understand pensions and insurance; after all, they have only been in existence for the last fifty or so years.

How does God expect us to pay a tithe of 10 percent with rising utilities, mortgage, and other bills?

We believe we know better how to manage our dollars than God does—God isn’t even on the signature card!

How can we trust God if we haven’t prepared for it faithfully?

Our stones take on many looks.

They may be the stones of distrust, racism, hate or selfishness. Anything that stands in the way of making disciples for Christ or sharing God’s love with others, or prevents us from living life more abundantly, needs to be rolled away.

Mary embodies the transformation from weeping and sorrow to joy; from confusion to understanding.

The same opportunities are open to us.

We know the story, perhaps too well, because its familiarity results in complacency. We experience neither the confusion nor the joy of Mary.

May we, in this hour, read with new eyes and hear with new ears the good news.

May our rocks of certain unbelief and distrust roll away to reveal the joy anew, and may we be transformed.

Krikor Youmshajekian