On the way [to the tomb, the women who were going to anoint Jesus' body] were asking each other, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
—Mark 16:3-4 NLT
The question about moving the stone is such a practical one for the women as they approach the tomb. The grave of Jesus has been sealed with a heavy stone (Matthew 27:60-66). The women couldn't manage it — they would need help to move the stone away. Little did they know that God had already taken care of this problem in a far bigger way than they could ever imagine. At the same time, the question about who will figuratively move the stone from our graves is one that each human being really faces in his or her own life. If we view our own death as a problem because we don't have the answer for what happens next, then efforts to preserve our physical lives may become unreasonably important to us. Of course, those efforts will ultimately fail. So our Father in heaven gives us the greatest present we could ever receive: He raised his Son from the dead and gives life to us through Jesus. God has rolled away the stone — Jesus' stone at the tomb and ours as well.
Gracious Father, thank you for rolling the stone of death away and for promising us eternal life. What a great gift! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2020 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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—Mark 16:3-4 NLT
Key Thought
The question about moving the stone is such a practical one for the women as they approach the tomb. The grave of Jesus has been sealed with a heavy stone (Matthew 27:60-66). The women couldn't manage it — they would need help to move the stone away. Little did they know that God had already taken care of this problem in a far bigger way than they could ever imagine. At the same time, the question about who will figuratively move the stone from our graves is one that each human being really faces in his or her own life. If we view our own death as a problem because we don't have the answer for what happens next, then efforts to preserve our physical lives may become unreasonably important to us. Of course, those efforts will ultimately fail. So our Father in heaven gives us the greatest present we could ever receive: He raised his Son from the dead and gives life to us through Jesus. God has rolled away the stone — Jesus' stone at the tomb and ours as well.
Today's Prayer
Gracious Father, thank you for rolling the stone of death away and for promising us eternal life. What a great gift! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2020 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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