For 2000 years men have been troubled by Jesus. Why is it, this Man from Galilee, should be the focus of such intense hatred and public scorn? It is quite simple, if He is true then they are false – if His claims are right then they are lost. With eternity at stake it is small wonder that men hate Him so.

He was sacrificed on the cross of political expediency. He was condemned by the testimony of false witnesses– he endured the mockery of a kangaroo court. Powerful men were determined that He should die a criminal’s death.

Justice died that night. There in the magnificent halls of the Temple built to honor God, God was put on trial and condemned – evil men trying to destroy a good man. Religious leaders and political opportunists united to remove this scourge of righteousness.

Thirty pieces of silver was all this Man was worth – the price of a slave, a day’s wage multiplied by thirty. That is all it took to nail Him to the cross to bleed and to die. An innocent man condemned to die in my place – your place.

O yes, they were well aware that He said he would rise the third day. Mind you, they didn’t want a martyr – just a dead criminal. And He died a criminal’s death – certified so by the Centurion in charge. No doubt of that.

They made the arrangements, all of them. Guarded by a battalion of battle hardened soldiers – no one was to steal His body. Wrapped in yards and yards of burial cloth, layered between embalming glue His body was placed in a borrowed tomb.

And a stone – a gigantic stone was rolled into place sealing the tomb. There would be no resurrection here, they would see to that. Secure that every detail was attended to, these men, these religious leaders and politicians rested from their exertions.

The demons of hell gather round the tomb to boast and drink of Jesus’ death. Gleefully they laughed at the sorrowing few – Satan the archangel ruled supreme in death.

But then it happened! The ground shook as the earth quaked and the guards fell in terror as the tomb was opened and Jesus – Jesus the Christ – stepped out of His grave clothes and into the light. History has never been able to answer the riddle of the empty tomb.

Many have tried though – they have denied the resurrection, they have belittled it, besmeared it, but they have never explained it – the question still remains, "Who Moved the Stone? No matter what man may say, the cross remains barren and the tomb empty!