When Jesus died on the cross, Mark 15: 43 says, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. When Pilate released Jesus’ body to him, Mark 15: 46 says… he placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph who saw where Jesus had been laid sent spices so that they might anoint Jesus’ body early the first day of the week just after sunrise. Mark 16: 3 says, they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
Why did they ask the question?
They asked the question for two reasons: (1) the tomb had been sealed by armed soldiers on Pilate’s order. Matthew 27: 65 says, “Take guard,” Pilate answered, “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So, they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and positioning the guard; and (2) the two women had no physical nor other strength to roll away the tomb stone.
Oftentimes, natural events or physical appearance of situations inhibit our fortitude. It is natural to reason out the challenges ahead of us yet it is not natural to capitulate when we have Christ Jesus. Jeremiah 32: 27 says, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind, is anything too hard for me? Although Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph knew who Jesus was, they shifted focus from what Jesus said in Matthew 28: 18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Our strength is not limited to what we have but what the word of God says. Philippians 4: 6 says, in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. It sounds plausible that the question of the two women was more of a prayer to God for an intervention than a complaint. God knows our thoughts and hears our prayer even before we ask. Paul quoted Jesus in 2Corinthians 12: 9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
When God will roll the tomb stone away
The attitude of the two women, Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of James and Joseph are very instructive for us:
They had good thoughts
Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of James and Joseph had positive thoughts about their mission to preserve Jesus’ body. Jesus intervenes even before we ask of him. Matthew 28: 2 says, an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. The angel sat on the stone so it could not be rolled back. God’s angels are sent to those with positive thoughts.
They trusted God to pave a way
Mary Magdalene and other Mary believed and trusted God to provide a way out even when it appeared unnatural. Jesus said in John 14: 1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. They overcame their doubts and fear with faith in God. By that faith, they called on God who answered their troubled hearts. Psalm 50: 15 says call on me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you will honour me. Rather than calling on God in faith in challenging times, we doubt and complain.
They showed bravery for God
Mary Magdalene and other Mary were bold and unwavering to do what was right for Jesus. They showed bravery to confront apparent hopelessness aided by the Holy Spirit hence overcame by the blood of Jesus. Proverbs 28: 1 says, the wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Most times, our timidity comes from lack of righteousness or knowledge of scripture. However, 2Timothy 1:7 says, for the Spirit that God gave us does not make us timid, but give us power, love and self-discipline.
They were appreciative of Jesus
Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of James and Joseph showed genuine appreciation to Jesus even in his death for what he meant to them. Such is the will of God. Proverbs 17: 22 says, a cheerful heart is good medicine. Accordingly, although the women were sore and broken in spirit, they received their healing when they proposed to show appreciation to embalm Jesus and by that appreciation, the stone was removed.
They began their day meditating
Mary Magdalene and other Mary began their day and week with good thoughts about Jesus. Those who start the day with Christ Jesus see God’s hand in their affairs. Unfortunately, most of us begin our day and week with chasing the wind rather than God. King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 2: 11 when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind, nothing was gained under the sun. When do we meditate about Jesus and his words in scripture?
The tomb stone in our lives
The tombstone is that sin and affliction which separates us from the peace of God. Only Jesus can remove that tombstone so we would behold his glory. Jesus assured us in Hebrews 13: 5, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Jesus does not leave us even with the tombstone of obstacles in our lives. Jesus said in John 10: 10, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Until Jesus comes into our lives, the tombstones will separate us from God in death.
To remove the tombstone that besets us, Revelation 12: 114 says, they triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Triumph is embedded in Jesus’ blood and his word. Mary and Mary knew and valued the blood of Jesus and his word hence triumphed over the tombstone. David wrote in Psalm 141: 8, my eyes are fixed, Sovereign Lord, in you I take refuge- do not give me over to death. David fixed his eyes on God to remove his tombstone.
Jesus restored life to Lazarus after he had instructed in John 11: 39, “Take away the stone.” Jesus also came out of the tomb with life when the tombstone was rolled away from his grave. When Jesus died Matthew 27: 51; Mark 15: 38 says, at that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Jesus rolled away the tombstone of the world and granted us access to God. What tombstone or blockade is on our lives which the Lord Jesus can’t roll away?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, as we pray and meditate on who will roll the tombstone on our lives so we could in joy have access to your throne of grace, let your angels by the Holy Spirit remove the blockade or siege on our lives; guard our access to life, peace and joy in you. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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