When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.  Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb  and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. ~Mark 16:1-8 NIV

I cannot even begin to say how many times I have personally read this section of text or how many times its been preached around Easter. However, when reading it last week, I was struck in a new way by the women questioning each other about who would roll the stone away.

Mark 16 Background

There are a few things that I think help us understand what we are reading a little better in this account from Mark. First, the disciples had abandoned Jesus and hid in fear. These women had stayed with him at the cross and they were back at his burial place.

Second, women were not respected in the Jewish culture at this time. Their testimony would not hold up in a court of law. They were on the same level as a slave not owning property or having much education.

Third, these burial spices they had in their possession were not cheap. They would have cost a pretty penny. It is highly likely that Joseph and Nicodemus contributed to the cost. (John 19)

Finally, the other accounts recorded in John 20, Matthew 28, and Luke 24 help round out the story since Mark tends to be a short and straight to the point kind of writer.

Obstacles and Faith

An obstacle is something that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress. The stone was definitely an obstacle to these women’s mission. They wanted to go in to the tomb and anoint Jesus’ body, but there was a 1-2 ton stone that sat perfectly in a groove and wasn’t really meant to be moved once put in place.

There were also the guards that had been placed at the tomb who may or may not have been cooperative to the women. (Matthew 27:62-28:4)

Faith on the other hand is complete confidence or trust in something or some one. The Bible describes faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) It also says that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6)

It is easy to see the faith these women had. They waited until the Sabbath had passed, obtained the precious supplies, got up early, they knew about the obstacles, and still they went to honor Jesus by anointing his body.

When they ask the question, “Who will roll the stone away?” It was a legitimate human concern, but not one that stopped their steps of faith. Just a barrier they knew needed to be removed and was not possible in their own strength.

It’s a good lesson for me. Faith keeps our eyes on the one who is worthy of complete trust and doesn’t let the obstacles deter us.

Who Will Roll This Stone Away?

We know God did it!

The thing is that they were asking the wrong question all along. Instead of asking about that stone and set on seeing Jesus’ dead body, they should have been saying, “What is God up to and what will we find when we get there?”

How often do we fall into the same trap though? Focusing on the temporal over the eternal. Forgetting that we should expect BIG things from our BIG God. God is willing and able to remove the obstacle so our faith is strengthened and His plan is accomplished.

The Women’s Response

The emotional, mental, and physical responses by these women are indicative of the human default response to give into what we see and feel over what God tells us is truth.

If we look close, we can see how we respond similarly in situations beyond our understanding and control. It’s a great lesson for us to learn how to let faith win out.

1. Fear

Their first response to finding the tomb empty and being spoken to by the angel is fear. (v.8) This is a typical response we see when people encounter angels in the Bible. But, their fear went beyond that, they also were fearful of what had happened to their beloved Jesus.

It’s a fear of not understanding the circumstances surrounding you. You expect one thing and instead get something completely different that you do not feel equipped to handle.

Like these women, we can let our fears materialize into confusion and distraction that paralyze us. Verse 8 says they were so overcome with these emotions that they ran away and told no one.

2. Confusion

Verse 6 says they were alarmed and verse 8 says they were bewildered. They could not comprehend how a man they saw die such a brutal death on that cross and laid in a tomb that had been sealed by a large stone and guarded by soldiers could no longer be there.

It’s so beyond our limited understanding the things that God is capable of doing. We limit Him so often to our own human experiences. We forget that He is all-powerful.

Our confusion so often leads us to not even listen to the facts. Presented by the angel with the fact that Jesus had been risen and will soon meet them in Galilee, they should have started discussing Jesus’ words and ran there immediately! Instead their confusion and fear distracted them from the good news.

3. Distraction

Because we so often focus on the temporal over the eternal, we get distracted by what we see and feel over exercising our faith. This is what happened to the women, their main concern was who would roll away the stone.

They didn’t for a minute think that maybe the stone wouldn’t even be there when they got there. So, it would have beyond their imagination that Jesus himself would have been gone.

This is how the enemy works. He wants to keep us distracted so that we start entertaining His lies over remembering and believing the truth of what God has said.

God’s Response

Their main concern, the stone, turned out to be a moot point. When they got there, God had gone before them to not only roll the stone away, but to give them even more than what they were seeking: A risen Savior!

Isn’t it just like God? Ephesians 3:20 says, God ” is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine“.

Let’s see how God responds so graciously to the natural human response. It is so encouraging and loving.

1. Calms our Fears

The angels first words are, “Do not be alarmed.” He did not berate them or further intimidate them, but wanted them to be calm and at peace to hear the message God had for them.

God is full of gentleness and peace. He does not want His people to fear but rather to trust in His love and care.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” And, 1 John 4:18 reminds us, “There is no fear in love.”

2. Reminds us of His Truths

We see in Luke 24:5 that the angel calls them out on it, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” He proceeds to remind them that Jesus already told them exactly what would happen:

Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ (Luke 24:6-7 NIV)

The Lord is so good to remind us again and again that His word is full of truth and promises for us. We need only to be still, listen, and believe.

“He is risen! He is not here!” This was good news. Jesus conquered sin and death. It was cause for celebration.

Jesus had told His disciples He was going to prepare a place for them and He would send the power of the Holy Spirit to be with them. We need to remember these truths often as well to keep our minds fixed on the eternal.

3. Gives us a Mission

Finally, these women were given a mission to go and tell. God asks them to share this good news with others: But go, tell his disciples and Peter. (v.7)

The mission for us has not changed. We are to tell others the good news of Jesus Christ. How He saved us and how He can do the same for them.

God doesn’t have to use us in His place, but He chooses to in order to grow our faith and obedience. Plus, our testimony encourages others that there is hope for them too.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16 NIV)