God beckons us to be people who believe in Him so completely that nothing will stand between or get in the way of a growing, intimate relationship with Him. It isn’t God who puts large stones in our path, it is the enemy who does believe that God is real but hates all that God is. It is God’s enemy who places large boulders of resistance, rebellious thoughts, hindrances we think are too great to overcome, assumptions of what is but isn’t, and presumptions of what we think cannot be done. All these negative, destructive thoughts lead to mistrust, unbelief, doubts, and disobedience. We lose all hope. We need help to roll the stone away.
Mark 16, The Message
The Resurrection
1-3 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. They worried out loud to each other, “Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?”
4-5 Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.
6-7 He said, “Don’t be afraid. I know you’re looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He’s been raised up; he’s here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now—on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You’ll see him there, exactly as he said.”
8 They got out as fast as they could, beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone.
9-11 [After rising from the dead, Jesus appeared early on Sunday morning to Mary Magdalene, whom he had delivered from seven demons. She went to his former companions, now weeping and carrying on, and told them. When they heard her report that she had seen him alive and well, they didn’t believe her.
12-13 Later he appeared, but in a different form, to two of them out walking in the countryside. They went back and told the rest, but they weren’t believed either.
14-16 Still later, as the Eleven were eating supper, he appeared and took them to task most severely for their stubborn unbelief, refusing to believe those who had seen him raised up. Then he said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.
17-18 “These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues, they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well.”
19-20 Then the Master Jesus, after briefing them, was taken up to heaven, and he sat down beside God in the place of honor. And the disciples went everywhere preaching, the Master working right with them, validating the Message with indisputable evidence.]
Note: Mark 16:9-20 [the portion in brackets] is not found in the earliest handwritten copies.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
Jesus was crucified, and his body buried. His followers were dismayed because he did not create a kingdom on earth. Because he died so close to the Sabbath (a day on which Israelites could do no work), his body was not completely prepared for burial. Once the Sabbath was over, the women planned to care for the body of Jesus. These are the same women who stayed throughout the horrific suffering of their Lord and then watched as His body was taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea who treated Jesus’ body with dignity and respect by purchasing a linen cloth to cover Him.
It is on this third day that the women set out, intending to put sweet-smelling spices on His body. The only thing deterring them on the way was the thought of the huge stone that they had earlier watched strong soldiers roll in front of the tomb to “seal it.” But what I notice in this passage is they kept walking toward the tomb anyway!
How many times do we set out to do good because of the deep love we have for God who leads us? But then worry sets in. We express out loud to those in the work with us. “Wait a second, how are we…” Some of us stop the work and think of all the ways it cannot be done. Some of us stop and stew in worry. Some of us just stop altogether and gaze at the stone we think is there stopping us. And then, praise God, some of us keep walking toward God’s will, keep working by God’s leading, and keep obeying and trusting that God will provide.
Suddenly, we look up to see that the stone has already been taken care of and is no longer a problem! How does that happen? Jesus, Son of God! It’s all about Jesus, not about the stone that gets in the way! In Jesus Name, by His power working in us, the same power that brought Him from death to life eternal, yes, that same resurrection power is available to us to overcome any obstacle that might block our view of Him!!
Who will roll the stone away for us? Jesus! Hallelujah!
Jesus was not simply a man who led a good life and died. He rose from the dead. Death cannot hold Him or his followers. God conquered death and gave us hope.
Because the women kept walking toward the tomb, Jesus blessed them with an even greater assignment than throwing spices on the dead. God’s angel was sent to give these women this magnificent, Good News to pass on to others—“Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You’ll see him there, exactly as he said.” Yes, the women learn that there is nothing to see here, no embalming with spices to do here, for Jesus is NOT dead—He has risen! The stone you worried about out loud to each other, ladies, is no longer a problem. So, “on your way, go and tell.”
“And Peter.” Why specifically Peter? Peter was designated early on as the “the rock” upon which Jesus would build His church (believers then and now!). Matthew 16 records it and it is important right now for us to recall the conversation. Peter answered correctly when Jesus asked His disciples, “But, who do YOU think I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Peter then is given an assignment from Jesus that will be done after Jesus completes His mission on earth and ascends back to heaven. “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” Simon, AKA Peter, the Rock!
However, it is this same Peter who denied Jesus in the courtyard earlier, as predicted by Jesus, and is now grieving over it. The “Rock” has been waylaid by a stones of fear, remorse and regret. Peter, full of love for His Master, needs to be told that Jesus is alive and wants to see him! Peter will experience forgiveness that is complete because of the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus for him—and for all who believe and call on His Name!
We read in Acts that it is this same Peter, full of God’s Holy Spirit, who will stand up in a crowd gathered to now boldly preach Truth that will lead to thousands being saved by the forgiveness accepted by Peter himself first. Here is an excerpt from Acts 2—
“Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:37-28
“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” Acts 2:41 Yes! The stones of regret and remorse over the sins of denial, fear, and doubt, were rolled away and removed from Peter. Jesus’ resurrection power enveloped Peter’s being, inside and out! Because of Peter and the other committed disciples, the Good News of new life in Jesus was spread around the world!
Our own stones of sin are just as easily rolled out of the way and removed altogether by the forgiveness of Jesus who then develops a Rock Solid faith in us that becomes unshakable and unmovable. We have full access to the same power that resurrected our Lord!
“Resurrection power has set us free from the bondage of sin and the mistakes we have made in the past. Don’t forget that you are a new creation once you believe that Jesus paid the price for your sin on the cross. You are full of the resurrection power of God!” John 8:36, ESV
Lord,
Thank you for being in all the details of our lives then and now. You rolled away the heavy stone for the women to reveal the risen Lord—You! If there are stones that block our view of You or hinder what you have called us to be and do—remove them and toss them away by your power and strength. Then help us to realize the power of you in us making us even more determined to quickly trust and obey. Thank you for saving our souls and making us whole. Thank you for rolling all the stones of my sins so far away I no longer see them. I only see you.
In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand…
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 