The Stone Is Rolled Away!
Month 7: He Is Risen! — Why We Believe · Bible Story
Today's Scripture
Read together: Matthew 28:1-7
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.”
Memory Verse
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.”— Matthew 28:6 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Hosea 1–4
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Hosea shows a love that pursues us even when we wander — the same love that emptied the tomb.)The Heart of It
It was still dim and gray that Sunday morning. Two women named Mary walked toward the tomb, their hearts heavy with grief. Jesus had been crucified, wrapped in cloth, and sealed behind a huge stone. They expected to weep. Instead, the ground shook. An angel of the Lord came down, rolled back the stone, and sat on it. His face was like lightning. His clothing was white as snow. The tough Roman soldiers guarding the grave shook with fear and fell down like dead men. The stone wasn't moved so Jesus could get out. He was already gone. It was moved so His friends could look in and see for themselves. The place where the Lord lay was empty.
The angel's words are some of the best words ever spoken: "He is not here; He has risen, just as He said!" Notice that little phrase, just as He said. Jesus had told them this would happen, and now it had. Death did not win. The grave could not hold the Author of life. And the very first thing the women were told to do was go quickly and tell the others. The good news of Easter was never meant to be whispered in secret. From the very first morning, it was made to be carried, shared, and shouted. The tomb is empty, and that changes everything.
Around the Table
Jesus' friends came to a sad tomb. But the big stone was rolled away, and Jesus was alive! No more sad. It's the happiest morning ever!
Let's do it: Make a big "rumble" earthquake sound, then cheer, "He is risen!"
The angel said the stone was rolled away so people could see the empty tomb. God wanted real eyes to see real proof.
Let's talk: Why do you think God let the women see the empty place instead of just telling them?
The angel said Jesus rose "just as He said." It happened exactly as He had promised beforehand. A risen Savior who keeps His word can be trusted with everything.
Let's go deeper: What other promises of Jesus can you trust because He kept this one?
💬 Conversation Starter
What is the most exciting news you've ever run to tell someone? The empty tomb is even bigger. And it's still good news today!
🛡️ Defending the Faith
How do we know the women weren't just at the wrong tomb? Matthew tells us they had watched where He was buried (). And the angel pointed to the place where the Lord lay, the same grave, now empty. The earliest Christians never argued about whether the tomb was empty. Even Jesus' enemies admitted it was, and we'll see that on Day 190.
For Dad · Go Deeper
The resurrection is not a tacked-on happy ending. It is the hinge of the whole Christian faith. Notice how concrete Matthew's account is. A named day. Named women. A named place. Named guards. The Gospels do not read like fairy tales that start "long ago and far away." They read like testimony given by people who expected to be questioned. As you lead tonight, model belief that is both warm and grounded. Your kids are watching to see what Easter is to you. Is it a sweet tradition, or the most solid fact in your life? Let them see a father who would stake everything on the empty tomb, because the men and women who first saw it did exactly that.
Draws on: McDowell & Wallace, Cold-Case Christianity / Evidence That Demands a Verdict.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that the tomb is empty. Thank You that Jesus is alive! Help us believe it deep in our hearts. Give us joy to tell others the good news. We praise You that death could not hold our Savior. In Jesus' name, amen."
He is not here. He is risen! The grave could not hold the One who holds my life.