By Nick Hibner
On the morning of Jesus’ resurrection, “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?’” (Mark 16:1-3, New International Version).
Does it strike you as odd that these three women asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” They didn’t have a plan for how they were going to get inside. Personally, I find this shocking. It’s one thing to have forgotten a few burial spices or to be short a few strips of linen; it’s another thing not to be able to get inside the tomb. To any reasonable person, it would seem like these women were a bit short-sighted and unprepared. To be blunt, it seems like they were making a mistake—wasting their time.
Perhaps there are circumstances in your life that seem just as immovable or impenetrable as the stone in front of Jesus’ tomb. A circumstance that leaves you with unanswerable questions. A family member who continues to be a staunch atheist. An illness that is no longer in remission. A loss that is irreplaceable. Or a tug on your heart that seems far beyond reason.
“Who will roll the stone away?” This question could have caused paralysis, leading these women to stop in their tracks and turn around. However, despite not having an answer to their question, they continued to walk toward the tomb.
Imagine if they stopped, realizing the foolishness of their actions, and turned around and went home. They would have missed the greatest discovery in history. They would have missed a conversation with two angels. They would have missed seeing the empty tomb. And they would have missed Jesus. John chapter 20 says, “But Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside the tomb. . . . Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’” (John 20:11, 15-16). This was the first eyewitness account of the resurrected Messiah.
As you reflect on your current circumstances, perhaps there is a “Who will roll the stone away?” size question in your life. A circumstance that feels too big, difficult, or elusive. However, there is an equally important question you must ask: “What if the stone is already rolled away?” What opportunities, miracles, relationships, and spiritual growth will you miss by simply stopping or turning around? The stone may be big, but the God we serve is far bigger. Our job is not to move the stone. Our job is to put one foot in front of the other as we walk with God. He can handle the stone.
As you take Communion, thank God for the stones he has moved in your life, and give thanks for the stones that he will move in the future. Most of all, give thanks that when the stone was moved, the tomb was empty. For when that stone was rolled away, it signified that death had been defeated. Our Savior is alive.
Nick Hibner is a member of the East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Author: Christian Standard
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