The Stone is rolled away
Posted on April 5th, 2026 by RedeemedSaturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.
Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb.
On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”
- Mark 16:1-3
After Jesus gave up the ghost, he was laid in a tomb cut out from the rock and a stone rolled over the entrance to the tomb.
Since the Sabbath was approaching and the manner in which Jesus was crucified no one could perform the customary burial rites on him.
After the Sabbath, the women thought to do the right thing by anointing his body but the stone rolled over the entrance of the tomb, a good thing that was done to restrict access became a cause of great worry for the them.
They lack the strength to roll away the stone, yet it didn't stop them to proceed to the tomb determined to anoint Jesus's body.
As they went they deliberated amongst themselves, 'who will roll away the stone for us?'.
There comes a point in life where challenges seems unmountable, and yet what is needful has to be done. At such moments what do we do?
These women facing a daunting challenge refused to allow their fears and inability stop them from trying to access the body of Jesus for the burial rites that should have been done on him.
As they approached the tomb they realised their worries had been taken care of even before they got there!
God sees our hearts and knows our thoughts, and before we call He says He will answer.
He already sent His angel ahead of them to roll away the stone and sat on it - showing He is in total control of all things.
The account of Matthew puts it this way;
Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.
His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
Matthew 28: 2-4
The women had a legitimate concern that they had no natural solution to but the God who sees the heart and discern the intentions of men saw their needs.
By the time they got there a solution was already delivered to them for the angel said;
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.
- Matthew 28:5-6
As I consider these things it was illuminated in my spirit that the burial rites the women wanted to perform was already done on the body of Jesus by the woman with the alabaster jar of very expensive perfume.
She broke the perfume made of pure nard and poured it on the head of Jesus in preparation of his body for burial at Bethany when Jesus was in the home of Simon the Leper.
Jesus himself of her;
"She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time."
- Mark 14:8.
Jesus knew exactly how he would die and that the timing would not allow for the burial rites because of the closeness to the Sabbath and so God allowed his body to be anointed before hand for burial. God’s ways indeed are mysterious and nothing takes Him unaware.
Back to the women who went to the tomb with the intention of anointing Jesus body;
Because of their genuine concern for Jesus even though he was dead and buried, they were the first to receive the brilliant news of Jesus's resurrection from the grave. They saw and told the rest of the disciples whom of course did not believe.
To them the women were talking nonsense but Peter however ran to the tomb to check it out and found what the women said to be true. He however wondered what happened to the body of Jesus.
Jesus later appeared to them as they gathered together eating, and He rebuked them for their lack of faith and refusal to believe those who had seen Him after he rose from the dead.
There He also commissioned them to take the gospel to all the world, and that anyone who believes will be saved!
The stone was enormous and imposing but just one angel sent by God took care of it. Our God is able to do great things.
Tell your challenges to Him and watch Him take care of them.
God bless.
Peace!
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