What About the Stone?

A guard of battle-tested, Roman soldiers was dispatched to guard the tomb of Christ. No group of crazed religious fanatics was going to steal the dead body of the supposed Messiah. Then there was an earthquake. Then an angel with the appearance of lightning came down and rolled the stone away and perched himself on top of it. The soldiers watched in shock and then passed out in fear.
If you were there you would have expected to see Jesus walk out into the morning light. There was just one problem. The tomb was already empty.  Just as he could not be hindered from entering in a locked room later that day, he could not be contained by the sealed tomb.

The angel of God opened an empty tomb for all to see. Jesus now moved about with the grace and power of a body not subject to the barriers and boundaries of earth.  Jesus fulfilled the gospel promise made so long ago. The curse was broken. As Paul said, death had lost its sting.

One day, you and I will have a body like the one that left the sealed tomb.  This is part of what Easter means. Death, sickness, and physical limitations will be no more. Just as our spirits will be free from the ravages of sin, so too will our bodies.

Easter is not a mystical event or an elevation of consciousness. Easter means that you will be totally renewed, rejuvenated in spirit and in body. That which brings so much sadness now will be no more. The suffering of the body is but for a moment. The joy of our glorified bodies awaits. The empty tomb shouts the power of the resurrected Christ.

The stone was rolled away for your joy and brings hope of eternity with Christ!

Shepherd Press