The Empty Tomb Speaks

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ . . . Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you’, He replied, ‘If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’ ” (Luke 19:37-40)    
     Passage: Matthew 28:1-10

       Can stones speak? According to Jesus they could. On the Sunday before His crucifixion, He rode on the back of a donkey down the road by the Mount of Olives and up the hill to Jerusalem. People lined the road, placing palm branches and even their cloaks in front of Him while they shouted out praises to Him. The religious leaders, who rejected Him, told Jesus He should rebuke His disciples and tell them to be quiet. His response was to say that if they did, the stones would cry out.

On Friday of that week, Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb, carved out of the side of hill and a giant stone was rolled in front of the entrance. The world and His disciples thought everything was over and all their dreams and hopes were gone. But Sunday changed everything. When Mary Magdalene and another Mary went to the tomb with a desire to somehow be able to get inside and properly anoint Jesus’ body, they discovered that the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. They heard the greatest announcement of history. “He is not here. He has risen!” The stone and the empty tomb affirm that announcement and they speak with the angel of God’s love, power and plan for you and anyone else who will listen and believe.

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