Order Of Service

Matthew 27:66

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 28:6

He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Introduction

We hear a lot these days about individuals who have broken barriers or pierced the glass ceiling. It is nothing new. I have heard it all of my life. Let’s be real. They always refer to minorities and women. We applaud them, because they had to work harder than others to achieve success.  The designation of the first Black, the first woman, or the first Hispanic is a pinnacle of achievement. It also comes with a lot of scrutiny and almost unbearable pressure to succeed. These “firsts” represent an entire ethnic group or an entire gender. Think how much more they could have achieved, if there had been no barriers. We can only speculate.

While everyone compliments these trail blazers, - and I do too - I have always wondered why society, as a whole, never condemns the system or people that erected the barriers or the glass ceilings in the first place. For example, as a child, we were so proud that Jackie Robinson had become the first Black to play major league baseball, but no one in the mainstream condemned the system that prevented Blacks from previously playing in the major leagues. Jackie Robinson was a great player – a great player, but he was not the best Black player of his time. With all due respect, he was chosen because of his “even temperament.” This was no secret to him. He gladly accepted the role of turning the other cheek. I am getting ahead of myself, but Jesus “busted” three barriers on the day of His resurrection. Let me say that again: Jesus busted three barriers on the day of His resurrection.

Now, let’s get to the context of our text.  No one believed that Jesus would rise from the dead.  His followers did not believe it, and his enemies did not believe it. His enemies, however, were afraid that His followers would steal the body and spread a false narrative that He had risen from the dead. What they thought would be false was really true. Oh, what irony! The enemies believed that the disciples were as deceitful and “low down” as they were. They went to Pilate and requested that barriers be placed around the tomb to prevent the disciples from removing the corpse.  His enemies were trying to solve the wrong problem. They were trying to keep His followers from getting in. They should have been concerned about preventing Jesus from getting out. Either way, they were doomed to failure. Pilate complied with their request, but it still did not work, because no force is strong enough to keep my Jesus down.  Let’s look at these three barriers: the seal, the soldiers, and the stone, and get inspiration to “keep on keeping on,” in spite of the barriers we personally encounter and to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

Exposition

1. The Roman Seal.

    (Evil In High Places.)

    (Gross Corruption With Human Authority.)

2. The Roman Soldiers.

    (People Who Become Obstacles.)

    (Individuals Who Unfairly Block Entry.)

3. The Really Big Stone.

    (Things That Seem Impossible To Move.)

    (But God Has Already Moved Them.)

Closing Thoughts

“Nothing could hinder my Jesus,

Nothing could keep Him down.

Nothing came close to stopping Him,

From rising up from the ground,

From rising up from the ground.”

End Note

A Roman seal on a tomb was an official legal stamp often of clay or wax. It was imprinted with the Roman imperial insignia (logo) and attached to a rope or ropes which stretched across the stone. It signified imperial authority, and the penalty for breaking it was sure and sudden death. Sometimes, the ropes made an “x”, and the insignia was placed where the two ropes merged. Since Roman officials or dignitaries were buried with their bejeweled uniforms or attire, it was a deterrent to grave robbers who would come and steal the jewels. Ironically, when they sealed the tomb, they were treating Jesus as a Roman dignitary.

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