Some mornings I can’t write fast enough to keep up with what the Lord is pouring into my heart.
My simple prayer each morning is “Lord, what do you want me to share?” Then I sit quietly and wait. This morning my heart began to sing a song, complete with hand motions, from my childhood Sunday School days.
“Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away
Every burden on my heart rolled away
Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away
Every burden on my heart rolled away
All my sin had to go, ‘Neath the crimson flow..
Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away
Every burden on my heart rolled away”
This was followed by three thoughts from Scripture. I’ll share each one as briefly as I can and hope you will let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what stones the Father has rolled away for you.
Let’s go to John 11 first. This is where we find the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. He was Jesus’ close friend, he had been dead and buried when Jesus arrived.
Jesus wept. And after He wept, He prayed and took authority over the situation.
“ Jesus then said, ‘I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. 26 And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die. Do you believe this?’
27 ‘Yes, Lord!’ she replied. ‘I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God. You are the one we hoped would come into the world.’” John 11:24-27 CEV
When we believe in Christ we are no longer dead but we have new life; we are born again.
“Then he told the people to roll the stone away. But Martha said, “Lord, you know that Lazarus has been dead four days, and there will be a bad smell.”
40 Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?”
41 After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, “Father, I thank you for answering my prayer. 42 I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so the people here would believe you sent me.” John 11:39-42 CEV
Roll away the stone – they did – He prayed and Lazarus came out of the tomb.
“His hands and feet were wrapped with strips of burial cloth, and a cloth covered his face. Jesus then told the people, “Untie him and let him go.” verse 44
Lazarus was wrapped up in grave clothes. He was tied up in his past, in death but the command of God was more than enough to speak new life into his being. Jesus set him free from the past and gave him an eternal relationship. No longer to be bound to sin and the distresses of this life.
Now quickly, let’s go to John 20. We are at another tomb, this one was for Jesus.
“ He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in. 6 When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. 7 He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus’ face. It was rolled up and in a place by itself.” John 20:5-7 CEV
This time God rolled away the stone. This time no one needed to untie the man from the grave clothes. This time the man in the tomb, Jesus, walked out in victory. Death had no hold on him! Jesus had come out of the grave with the keys of life for all who believe.
“Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on. ” I Peter 1:3 CEV
Now, let’s go back to that children’s chorus. “Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away
Every burden on my heart rolled away”. The stone of our tomb has been rolled away and Jesus has called us out to a new life. A life not bound by grave clothes – no, Jesus had us leave them in the tomb, rolled up and laying there.
We have had our sins rolled away and we now live in newness of life!