Roll The Stone Away

Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭3

“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 ‭NIV‬‬

Today, I invite you to think about the large stones in your life. Those obstacles that are keeping you from living the full abundant life with Christ, here and now.

Think about those challenges that are trying to keep you in your tombs, so to speak. Those battles that paralyze us with fear, that trap us, that try to stop us from living, really living, our new lives in Christ.

“Who will roll away the stone for us?" This was the question of the women who had followed Jesus. For us, the question might be. Who will balance the checkbook, service the car, mow the lawn, take care of the house, do the laundry.

On and on we could go about the practical questions that result from the death of a loved one. In the face of death, we often find ourselves with bewildering and overwhelming questions. These are practical questions. These are hard questions. These are confusing questions.

Jesus death was no different. Life goes on for those left behind in grief. More than just offering quiet and nice platitudes, let's get to work helping roll away the stone for each person who needs grace. Let’s do practical and helpful things that need doing for those who are overwhelmed with grief.

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.

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.

We come expecting to see Jesus where we put Him. We put Jesus in church on Sunday, or in our prayers when everything is falling apart and we need a super hero, or in our complaints when things don’t go the way we asked them to go.

We expect to see Jesus where and when we need Him. We need to be willing to look for Him where He is,  not where we expect Him to be. Jesus is always found in His Word.

Resurrection was not even a consideration in the midst of these women. Don’t we tend to be blown away by the miracles of God? 

We say things like, I can’t believe God came through here, in such a huge way, instead of expecting the God of miracles to show up BIG.

I am so guilty of this. I believe God can do miracles, don’t get me wrong, I just don’t believe a lot of times that He will do them for me, but He does. Oh that we press in so we don’t miss them.

None of us have seen Jesus. But we love Him on the basis of what these witnesses have told us of Him. And if we are committed to His sacrifice for us in devotion.

if we have allowed the Holy Spirit to bring full conviction to our minds through the evidences declared in the Scriptures, then we can rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.

What a powerful motivation that joy is to our witness for Jesus!!!

Father thank You for this day and for rolling the stone of death away and for promising us eternal life. Lord pour out Your abundant blessings from the floodgates of heaven over my friend and family today. Lord what a great gift You gave us through Your obedience to death. Lord give us the courage to walk faithfully in the footsteps of those witnesses at the tomb that morning. Lord provide us with the support of Christian community to help us roll away our stone and do the things that most need doing. Lord use us to help those in despair and grief today in very practical ways. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya