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JOHN 19:30

Intro: It all began in the Garden of Eden. By one man, sin entered the world and death by  sin.
       This death passed unto all men for all have sinned. Man's history one of rebellion
       against God. Flood - Sodom - Israel. Man was hopelessly enslaved in sin. God had  sent
       many messengers to men. They were servants of God, bearing God's message  for man. The
       people not only rejected the messages, but took the messengers and  cast them in 
       prison. Others they stoned, still others they sawed in two. God promised  His 
       messengers that deliverance for man in sin would come.
        That He would be born of a woman's seed, Gen. 3: 15
        That His mother would be a virgin, Isaiah 7:14
        That He would be the seed of Abraham, Gen. 22:18
        Lineal descendant of David, Il Sam. 7:12, 13
        That He would be born in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2

The prophets with great sorrow learned of man's rejection of God's Redeemer. "He was despised
and rejected by men."
        He would be betrayed by a friend. Ps. 41:9
        Forsaken by His disciples. Ps. 31:11
        Falsely accused. Ps. 35:11
        Silent before His judges. Isa. 53:7
        Proved guiltless. lsa. 53:9
        Numbered with transgressors. lsa. 53:12
        Crucified. Ps. 22:16
        Mocked by crowd. Ps. 109:25
        Taunted by non-deliverance. Ps. 22:7,8
        Gambling for His garments. Ps. 22:18
        That He would pray for His enemies. lsa. 53:12
        That He would be forsake by God. Ps. 22:1
        That he would thirst. Ps 69:21
        The yielding of His spirit unto the father. Ps. 31:5
        No bones would be broken. Ps. 34:20
        Buried in a rich man's tomb. lsa. 53:9

How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in God's Holy Word.

"AND THEY ROLLED A STONE OVER THE DOOR OF THE TOMB"

Intro: Jesus Christ the Son of God, the creator of the Universe has come to His creation on a
       mission of mercy. But man like the Frankinstein monster, man turned on His creator,
       brutally beat Him, mocked & mistreated Him, then placed Him on the cross until He died.

I. WHAT LAY BEHIND THE STONE?
        A. A dead conception of God.
                1. "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father."
                2. What was this conception of God?
                        a. He did not say He who has heard my teaching has a idea of God.
                        b. "He that hath seen Me."
                                1. A truth of universal application.
                                2. Every man reveals His God by what He is.
                                        a. Every man has a God, even those who say they do not
                                           believe in God.
                                        b. That to which he gives his devotion, thought and
                                           energy.
                                        c. He that has seen Me has seen My God" Man becomes
                                           like his God.
                        c. Grace & truth - Mercy & Justice -Peace & Righteousness. His
                           conception of God denies in his dark neither Grace nor truth.
                3. Now this conception of God lies dead in the grace and they have rolled a
                   stone over the door of the tomb.
        B. A dead passion to save.
                1. "For the Son of man has come to seek & to save that which was lost."
                2. This to was also rejected man by his actions proved the convictions of
                   philosophy man not work redeeming.

II. THE MEANING OF THE STONE.
        A. To the religious rulers.
                1. A great triumph.
        B. To the disciples.
                1. A tragic disappointment and heart break.
        C. To the woman.
                1. A problem

III. "AND LOOKING UP THEY SEE THAT THE STONE IS ROLLED BACK."
        A. Implications.
                1. His concept of God is true!
                2. Man can be redeemed!
                3. Jesus shall yet reign - His kingdom shall come.
        B. Why was the stone rolled back?
                1. To let Jesus out?
                2. To let man in?
        C. What fact is indicated?
                1. "He is not here He is risen!"
                2. Central fact of Christianity.

IV. TODAY MEN STILL ROLL THE STONE OVER THE DOOR.
        A. They reject Christ's concept of God.
        B. They reject Christ's desire to redeem. They walk in the empty bleak prospects of a
           cold dead existence, absent from the life of God.