What Jesus Did! 'Rolled Away!' — Mark 16:3-4

Thursday, December 26, 2024

On the way [to the tomb, the women who were going to anoint Jesus' body] 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 16:3-4 NLT

Key Thought

The question about moving the stone is such a practical one for the women as they approach the tomb. The grave of Jesus has been sealed with a heavy stone. [1] The women couldn't manage it — they would need help to move the stone away. Little did they know that God had already taken care of this problem in a far bigger way than they could ever imagine. At the same time, the question about who will figuratively move the stone from our graves is one that each human being really faces in his or her own life. If we view our own death as a problem because we don't have the answer for what happens next, then efforts to preserve our physical lives may become unreasonably important to us. Of course, those efforts will ultimately fail. So our Father in heaven gives us the greatest present we could ever receive: He raised his Son from the dead and gives life to us through Jesus. God has rolled away the stone — Jesus' stone at the tomb and ours as well.

[1] Matthew 27:60-66.

Today's Prayer

Gracious Father, thank you for rolling the stone of death away and for promising us eternal life. What a great gift! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Hebrews 2:14-18
  • 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
  • Romans 8:11

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Illustration

Illustration of Mark 16:3-4 NLT — "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?"

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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