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?”
But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
Mark 16:2-4
Two days ago, we celebrated that empty tomb, that rolled-away stone, and most importantly, our Risen Lord! The end of Jesus’ life on the cross wasn’t the end at all. It wasn’t the end of our hope or our faith, either; it was only the beginning. It seems fitting to pick up right there at the tomb—at the end that was really the beginning. Because what we often see as a stop sign, is really just a green light for a different road. We have a Savior who rolls stones! A Savior who removes what is no longer necessary or useful, and all that is temporary, and replaces it with what is new and fruitful and eternal.
The women at the tomb were obviously distraught. Their hearts had been broken, and they were filled with intense grief and despair. As they walked to Jesus’ tomb to anoint His body and give Him a proper burial, they were focused on their problem…that is, until they looked up! When they looked up, they saw hope! They saw God’s infinite strength and power, even if they didn’t quite understand what they were seeing at that moment. We have a Savior who’s in the miracle business! Every one of us feels distraught and hopeless when we keep our heads down and fixate on our fears and our growing doubts. We become consumed by the endless list of problems in our lives, and it’s easy to get sidetracked by all the negatives. But sometimes all we need to do is look up! When we take our eyes off of ourselves and focus on our almighty, powerful God, rather than our problems, our focus shifts from our limitations to God’s infinite power!
Jesus will roll away whatever stones are keeping you stuck and holding you back from the life He has for you. If it is a stone of fear or a stone of shame that is keeping you in darkness, ask Jesus to roll it away and bring you into the light. If it is a stone of perfectionism or people-pleasing or insecurity, ask Him to help you focus on His heart and His truth instead. If you are controlled by stones of lust or addiction or dishonesty, ask Him to help you to bravely conquer all that unhealthiness and replace it with all that is good and right and true (Ephesians 5:8-9). Jesus will always help you when you look up from your problems and seek His face. You may not even know when you are witnessing His infinite power in the moment, but He will reveal His work and presence in your life. And that’s when your trials become your testimony! You are loved!