Rolling Away the Stone
The rolling away of the large stone that blocked the entrance to Jesus’ tomb is so important that it is mentioned in all four Gospels. In Matthew’s Gospel Mt 28:1-8 the stone is rolled away by ‘an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.’
The fact that the stone was rolled away by an angel emphasizes the supernatural aspect of Jesus' resurrection. It underscores the idea that this event was not merely a human accomplishment but a divine act. It represents the opening of a new chapter in human history. It signifies the possibility of new life and the promise of eternal life for believers through Jesus Christ.
So often in our own lives we encounter large stones that keep us captive within a tomb. I think of low self-worth, toxic relationships, addictions, evil forces and structures of evil within the world, unemployment and past sins that hold us captive to guilt and grief. The rolling away the large stone by an angel of the Lord is evidence that through our Lord Jesus Christ there is hope that the large stones of our lives can be rolled away opening the Way to New Life.
It serves as a confirmation to us that God is actively involved in our lives and is capable of bringing about miraculous transformations, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
It is instructive that the Risen Christ does not go about publicly revealing himself to all, but only to those of faith. While He walked the earth, Jesus repeatedly told those he met that faith in him as the ‘Only Son of the Father’ was a prerequisite for healing and transformation. Now that the stone is rolled away from the tomb, revealing an empty tomb, faith is the prerequisite for them to witness the Risen Christ.
So it is for us, the large stones that block the entrance and hold us captives within tombs can only be rolled away through the Grace of the Risen Christ by Faith. And faith is received through prayer. With whatever grain of mustard seed of faith we have, we use it to start to pray. And as we pray, it leads to more faith which empowers us to pray more, in a virtuous cycle rising up to God.
Abba, through our Lord Jesus Christ, please give me the faith to pray, to remove the large stone that keeps me captive within a tomb.
Dear friends, I am please to announce the launch of my website. It is my hope that it will grow into something of beauty and value, a hopeful sign of the resurrection.