Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. Matthew 28: 1, 2, NKJV
Heavenly Father, there are so many wonderful lessons to be learned from Your Word. Please teach us we pray, in Jesus’ name; Amen
Today we continue to look for hidden gems in the story of the crucifixion. Our eyes turn toward the women who were followers of Jesus. Those who were the last to leave the Savior’s side, as He hung upon the cross; and the first to arrive at the tomb, “while it was still dark, on the first day of the week” (John 20: 1). I can imagine them walking swiftly in the dark, close to one another, talking in whispers. They had all the spices they needed, and enough clean linen. Among themselves, they could lift, and turn the body of Jesus. They were prepared to anoint Him thoroughly. Today would be their last opportunity to do this, since tomorrow. being the fourth day, they expected His body to have begun to decompose; “Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to [H]im, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because [H]e has been dead four days’ ” (John 11: 39). They probably expected the same of Jesus’ body, as they did of Lazarus’.
But their main concern, right now, was about the “large stone,” that was “rolled… against the door of the tomb” (Matthew 27: 60). Who will roll it away….for it was very large (Mark 16: 3, 4). I believe there is a great and wonderful lesson that we can all learn from this: even though, in their reckoning, they had a problem, it did not keep these sisters from going forward! They would go and face the stone. When they get there, they will think of something. I believe we would get so much more done, if, when facing a problem, we would proceed this way. I wonder how the story would have ended had they stayed at home and worried about the problem. For one thing, they would not have known that the stone had been removed that very morning! Who knows how much later it would have been before they knew. How often we bear burdens that we should not be bearing. We sacrifice “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,” and we fail to bring glory to God, as “trees of righteousness” (Isaiah 61: 3)!
When they arrived at the tomb, the stone was not only rolled away, but “an angel of the Lord” was sitting upon it! Hallelujah! The foes that cause us fear, are but the Master’s footstool! To the threatening waves that seek to drown us He says, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4: 39)! To the legion of demons that seek to destroy us He commands, “Come out…you unclean spirit” (5: 8)! To our greatest foe He asks, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting” (1 Corinthians 15: 55)?
Are you facing a “stone” that seems too heavy for you to move? You have tried everything, and it just does not go away? Remember, you do not have to face it by yourself. Your hope is in the Lord! If one angel of the Lord can merely brush away a “very large stone,” how much more our God – the Rock of our salvation! Do not run away from the stone; face it in the name of the Lord, and watch Jesus roll it away!
NOTE: If you are noticing that the website is a bit sluggish, it is because a new server is being installed. Hopefully the swap will not take very long. I pray that the inconvenience of a few days will be well worth it. Please stay with us! My most profound apologies. Blessings!