Easter & Stones
"After he bought some linen cloth, Joseph took him down and wrapped him in the linen. Then he laid him in a tomb cut out of the rock and rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid."
—Mark 15:46-47 (CSB)
In our preparation for Easter Weekend, I found myself thinking about the stone that sealed Jesus' tomb. I read that it was likely between 1-2 tons - 4,000 lbs. That's a huge stone! It would've taken 2-3 people minimum to move it, and it certainly wouldn't have been moveable with a Roman guard protecting it. But we all know that God specializes in the impossible, so rolling the stone away from the entrance of the tomb was no big deal.
We've heard and celebrated this story so many times, that I'm afraid we've become a bit desensitized to it. It's so normal to believe that Jesus rose from the dead, that we might skim over thinking about the actual stone.
When that stone was rolled to seal the stone, it was because someone died. The stone sealed it—what's dead is dead. What's buried is gone. It got me thinking about things in our life that we've just accepted as being dead or too far gone. How many things do we believe it's too late for a different ending? In our fallen world, hardships come at us with great regularity. Sometimes it's severe. Sometimes it steals our hope and our joy. Sometimes it distracts us from our mission. Sometimes it just makes us sad for extended periods of time. We've all got situations that feel dead.
With that it mind, I'm just wondering what does the stone being rolled away from those losses mean? What have we given up on that God wants to resurrect? What losses are we only seeing in terms of loss when there's also gain nearby? What hope do we need to rekindle? What dream needs room to develop? What relationship could still be healed? What lost person could still come to faith?
We worship the God who rolls away stones, and I'm praying that we don't ever forget what he's capable of, even in the smallest places of our hearts and lives.
We are praying for you wherever you are this Easter Weekend, and we pray the power of the resurrection would fill your hearts with joy and testimony of everything that Jesus is. We would love to see any Easter pictures of your part of the world as you celebrate the Risen Lord. God bless you all. Happy Easter!
For the King and His Kingdom,
Jason Bollinger
P.S. - Thank you for your prayer for Breanna last month. She has made a quick recovery and is here in Houston during their season of both rest and fundraising. Please continue to pray for the Smolicas.
