Rolling The Stone
The path to the tomb was filled with determination and doubt. The women were determined to do something for Jesus. They could hardly stand the events of the last few days. They had watched helplessly as Jesus stood trial and was taken to his execution. When the Sabbath was over they had made plans to go to the tomb as soon as they could. Nicodemus and Joseph didn’t get the body in the tomb until it was too late for them to do anything.
Nicodemus had been prepared bringing spices almost equal to Jesus’ weight. They wanted to do more. They returned home to prepare spices and perfumes and to wait for the Sabbath to be over. They knew time was important and they just couldn’t stand to think of what was to happen to Jesus’ body. It was urgent enough to get up before daylight but they could not break the Sabbath. (Luke 23:55,56) They knew it would not matter eventually but still they were determined to do something.
Their doubt came from the last thing they had seen at the tomb. The huge stone that was rolled over the cave was intended to keep people out. It was not necessary to keep Jesus in. A guard had been set on Jesus tomb but the women either didn’t know about it or were not worried about it. The biggest problem was the stone. They didn’t really bring up the question to each other until they were on the way. Their determination was stronger than their doubt. They were going with spices but they didn’t know how.
When doubt is stronger than determination we think of what is possible before we prepare. It is a problem of engineering, physics and finances. How large is the stone, how much does it weigh? What would it cost to have someone remove it at such an early hour? Can arrangements be made to get permission to enter the tomb? It is more about organizing events and making arrangements than faith. Doubt makes us sit and think, determination lets us get up and act.
Jesus tomb was empty. We don’t know when Jesus left the tomb. We just know that when the angels rolled away the stone, the tomb was empty. They didn’t let Jesus out but they rolled away the stone to let the women in. The spices and perfumes were not needed. They were looking for a dead martyr not a risen savior. Jesus had taken the Pharisees’ injustice and hatred and turned it into glory.
My tomb is empty. The reason is I am not yet dead. People are not put in graves before they have died. Someday my tomb will be empty for a different reason. Who will roll away the stone or lift the lid? I don’t know. What will we be like? How will we travel? How will we meet Jesus in the air? I don’t know. I guess we will just figure it out on the way.
Terry Singleton
Pulpit Minister
Sunset Church of Christ
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