Forest Hills Baptist Church

April 12, 2020

Pastor Rich Hardeman

Title: The Veil and The Stone

I. Jesus Christ’s sacrifice destroyed the barrier between God and humanity​. “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. ​

51 ​ And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.” ​ Matthew 27:50-51 (NASB)
“For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ​ 25 ​ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. ​ 26 ​ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9:24-26 (NASB)

II. The stone was rolled away to allow His followers to discover ​His absence​. “So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. ​

4 ​ The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; ​ 5 ​ and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. ​ 6 ​ And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, ​ 7 ​ and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. ​ 8 ​ So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.”
​ John 20:3-8 (NASB)

III. Jesus Christ opened the way to God, all we need to do is invite Him into our ​hearts​.
“Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). ​ 17 ​ Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” ​ 18 ​ Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.” ​ John 20:16-18 (NASB)
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” ​ Revelation 3:20 (NASB)