The Stone Is Rolled Away by Archbishop Benson Idahosa: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Significance of the Resurrection

Resurrection is a service that should be celebrated more than once a year when you consider what it has done for the entire universe — big and small, white or black, red or yellow. The Son of God came from heaven, born in Bethlehem, grew there, preached there, lived there, and after 33 and a half years, it pleased God that the promise of Genesis 3:15 — that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent — had come to pass at last. No matter how long the promise takes, it shall come to pass.

Get your Bible and let us go to the scriptures. In Luke 24, we are told: upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre bringing the spices which they had prepared, and they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. They entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

The Enemy Cannot Hold What God Has Raised

The enemy has at one time or another tried to put upon you the same power that Paul described. In Romans 8, he says: if the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, that Spirit shall quicken your mortal body. Paul said it plainly — when He died, you and I died with Him. But when He rose, we also rose with Him. And now He is ascended; we ascended together with Him and sit together with Him in heavenly places.

They nailed Him to the cross. They tortured Him on Friday, punished Him on Friday, spat on Him on Friday. On Saturday He went to Hades and said to Satan: where is the key of life and death? He took the key of life and death from the devil. On Sunday morning, up from the grave He arose.

Friday Does Not Have the Final Word

Your pain may persist on Friday. Your troubles may be there on Friday. Your tumblings may be there on Friday. But the good news is — Sunday is coming. Your job may not be good on Friday. Your marriage may be shaking on Friday. Your children's school fees could not be paid on Friday. But the third day — Sunday is coming.

David said in the Old Testament, in the book of Psalms: no matter how many tears you shed in the night, joy comes in the morning. Joy is not happiness. Happiness depends on happenings. Bitterness may come in the night, sorrow may come in the night — but joy cometh in the morning.

On Friday they spat on Him. On Friday they said, you save others — heal others. On Friday they said, where is the power of miracles? But on Sunday, every question ceases. Every question about your life will cease.

There may be those who have been in the grave for three days — the grave of their profession, the grave of lack, the grave of denial, the grave of rejection. But Sunday is coming. Just the distance between Friday and Sunday — that is the whole of human victory.

On Friday they led Him to Pilate. On Friday they led Him to Herod. On Friday they gave Him vinegar. On Friday they bruised His back. On Friday He wore the crown of thorns. But on Sunday, He said to the grave: where is your power? Oh death, where is your sting? And the Bible says it is swallowed in victory. The power to kill you has been killed by the Saviour. The power that could take you from victory to defeat, from success to failure — that power has been taken.

254 Soldiers Could Not Hold Him

254 soldiers were asked to guard His grave. The enemies of righteousness stood by. The Egyptian magicians came with their enchantments. The soldiers cocked their guns. They did all they knew to do. But immediately the grave began to shake, and there was a sign He was about to rise. Early in the morning, an angel came from the throne of God, came near the grave and said: Stone, I have instructions from God.

The stone rolled away. The men entered the grave and searched and searched — He could not be found. That is why we are here. If Jesus was found in the grave, there would be no need to sing. If Jesus was found, blind eyes could not open. If Jesus was found, the lame could not walk. If Jesus was found, the dead could not be raised.

The Bible says: and it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. And as they were afraid and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them: Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here — He is risen. Remember how He spoke unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying: the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered His words.

Jesus Is the Only Way

There is only one way to God. Others say they believe in something else, but Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father except by Him. There is no Jesus the First, Jesus the Second, Jesus the Third — He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

25 years ago, this woman and I married lacking everything. The church was borrowed. The car was borrowed. The dress was borrowed. The plates for the food were borrowed. The only thing that was not borrowed between the two of us was our breath. But 25 years later, He that rose from the dead raised us — from poverty to prosperity, from sin to righteousness, from death to life, from lack to surplus, to the glory of His name.

Whosoever will accept Him today — what He did for us, He will do for you.

No More Stone Upon Your Head

This day marks the dawning of a new day for you and your family. This day marks the dawning of a triumphant life of resurrection for you, in every area that concerns you. It does not matter how many stones were rolled upon your head.

The one whose body's stone was rolled away is now rolling all stones away, and today is your turn. For if Christ rise not from the dead, our faith is in vain.

Every stone that was on your head before is rolled away. That preaching is preached so that you can get out of darkness into His marvellous light, so that you can get out of debt into life, so that you can get out of the way of loss into the way of truth. For Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father except by Him.

The one word to take home: the One whose stone was rolled away is now rolling all stones away. His resurrection turns you from perplexity to shining light. He sent His Son to take everything that gave you anxiety and perplexity. From now, the shining glory of God shall be your portion.

Father, in the name of Jesus, touch every life. They were perplexed, they bowed their faces to the earth in defeat and shame. But a voice came saying: He is not here, He is alive — risen from the dead. The grave could not hold Him. You lifted their heads up, gave them joy for their grief and sorrow. Joy to the whole world — the Son of God is risen from the dead. Now You live in our hearts to give us triumph. Blessed be Your holy name, in Jesus' name.

Maybe your head has been bowed to the ground. Maybe life has perplexed you and everything that concerns you is in defeat. By the authority that God vested in me, I reach my hand to you — I take you from perplexity, I take you from defeat and shame, I lift you up in the name of Jesus. Blessed be Your holy name, who lives and reigns forever, in Jesus' name we pray.

From this day, no stone again is upon your life. Jesus comes on time to take you from perplexity — touching down and lifting you up. Christ in you, the hope of glory. No more stone upon your head.