Happy Easter and welcome to all who are here to celebrate this great occasion with us.

We have so many and varied symbols of Easter here with us today. We have the Easter Lilies. They have always represented the renewal of the earth. One single stem brings forth multiple flowers. For many, the beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolize purity, virtue, innocence, hope and life - the spiritual essence of Easter. Dating back to Biblical lore, the lily is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. One of the most famous Biblical references is in the Sermon on the Mount, when Christ told his listeners: "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet..... Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Often called the "white-robed apostles of hope," lilies were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ's agony. Tradition has it that the beautiful white lilies sprung up where drops of Christ's sweat fell to the ground in his final hours of sorrow and deep distress. Churches continue this tradition at Easter time by banking their altars and surrounding their crosses with masses of Easter Lilies, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and hope of life everlasting.

Yes we have borrowed a number of our Easter traditions from pagan festivals. The Easter egg, which is a good symbol, predates Christianity. It is the symbol of life being regenerated.

The famous Easter bunny which most of us know in the Chocolate form comes from the spring ritual. Bunnies were chosen because they are prolific. They multiply very rapidly.

So I have brought my Easter basket along today. And in good Christian spirit I wish to share my gifts with you. So if I can have volunteers, he or she can take the basket to each of you and you can choose your own gift from the basket.

What a gift, a rock. But it is not just any rock; it is a piece of marble from a tombstone. It is a reminder of the story we just heard. Before the tomb of Jesus was a big rock. Mary worries how she will get rid of it so she can get access the tomb and prepare the body of Jesus for it final resting place.

Look at the Gospel we read this morning. As the Mary’s were making their way to the tomb, they were wondering who would roll away the rock from the tomb. That rock is a symbol of the many things which block our way to a fuller life. They, of course, arrive and found that God had already remove it. But they also found that what they had came to do was also changed. They were there to anoint the body of Jesus, a work of mercy and respect. Yet they run into an angel who says to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” And so their lives were changed.

They were the first to be charged with being witness to the marvelous things that God does. They were to announce the resurrection to all. As we read many of those stories over the next few weeks we will encounter many who come upon this event and with various reactions. But all will be asked to be witnesses to this event

So what is that you are a witness to? In our first lesson we have Peter’s witness as he told others and it is a good model for us. But there is also your testimony to what God has done in your life. I have given you a rock so that you will know and remember that God is in the rock removal business.

So when you find it hard to believe look at the rock I gave you and remember that God is in the rock removal business.

-- You have to roll away the rock of arrogance and admitted that you do not know it all.

-- You have to roll away the rock of indifference and say it really does matter to me.

-- You have to roll away the rock of limiting habits that chase the good life.

-- You have to roll away the rock of guilt for your past sins.

-- You have to roll away the rock of compulsive behavior that makes you hoard all those things to be safe from disaster.

-- You have to roll away the rock of insecurity that casts doubt after doubt.

-- You have to roll away the rock of misunderstanding that hopes God thinks the way you think.

-- You have to roll away the rock of an unforgiving spirit and let love conquer all.

But you also must witness to what God has done in your life. I know in my own life I faced death twice in my own life and saw the resurrection. Not my death but the death of my children. My son was shot in the back in a failed robbery attempt when he was 19. He was visiting a friend at college in Wichita and they went out to the local college hang out. As they were leaving a young man with gun appeared to rob them. They all turned around to run away and my son was shot in the back. He was in intensive care for 5 days. The surgeon said that he had not seen anyone survive such a wound. But he did and is in good shape today.

Once again a few years ago my daughter and her family were in a terrible car accident. Again it was caused by a young man high on drugs who was speeding down a road and ran a stop sign and broad sided their car turning it over and causing it to catch fire. They were pulled out and saved but my daughter had her kidney crushed. She also was intensive care for 10 days that was touch and go.

To day if they were here they could show their scars just like Jesus was able to show his disciples who found it hard to believe his scars, the wounds of the nails. Scars remind us that we have survived the worst and are here to tell about it. They also like Jesus witness to the power of God to change even death in our lives.

Each of you can search your memories and see how God has shown his love and remove the rocks so that you may have life and have it more abundantly.

Today lessons are about hope, hope for us. We have a God of the impossible. And if you do not think so let me remind you.

What "impossible" things have you done so far today? None? Really?

Did you perfectly poach your breakfast egg in 45 seconds in your microwave?

Did you log on to your e-mail site and download messages from friends, business associates and maybe even your grandson?

Did you get out of bed and stroll pain-free around your home using an artificial hip or knee?

Did you swallow a simple aspirin and so reduce your chance of a heart attack?

Did you drive to church in a $30,000-plus computer car that has a built-in satellite system so that you always know exactly where you are or where you are going?

Did you make a phone call from your car while on your way here? Did you stop at an ATM and pay a few bills or get some cash?

Did you stop at a 24-hour Taco Bell and grab a burrito with extra hot sauce for breakfast on your way to Sunday school?

You know that just 15 years ago, most of you would never have dream of one of these things, yet today they are a part of your life.

We have a God who does the impossible.

Now take a good look at that rock. Make it the symbol of how you bind up God in your life. You may believe as did the women of the Gospel. But what are the areas you need to take away the rock from.

Maybe you have not let God into your wallet. Maybe you have not let God into your business. Maybe you have not let God in between you and your friends. Wherever it is. Now is the time to take away the rock and let him in with all his power.

So let me close with the words of Paul read for you today:

Since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.