Now on the first day of the Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene week Mary Magdalene *came early to the tomb, *came early to the tomb, while it *was still dark, and while it *was still dark, and *saw the stone already *saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. taken away from the tomb. (John 20:1)(John 20:1)

Features of the Stone Features of the Stone Covering Jesus’ TombCovering Jesus’ Tomb

The stone was of great The stone was of great size!size!

and he rolled a and he rolled a large stonelarge stone against the entrance of the against the entrance of the tomb and went away. tomb and went away. (Matthew 27:60)(Matthew 27:60)

And looking up, they *saw And looking up, they *saw that the stone had been rolled that the stone had been rolled away, although it was away, although it was extremely largeextremely large. (Mark 16:4). (Mark 16:4)

The women coming to The women coming to the tomb knew they the tomb knew they could not move it by could not move it by themselves.themselves.

And they were saying to one And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:3)16:3)

There is an There is an interesting interesting parenthetical parenthetical note in the note in the Bezae Bezae manuscripts.manuscripts.

““And when He was laid there, he And when He was laid there, he put against the tomb a stone put against the tomb a stone which 20 men could not roll which 20 men could not roll awayaway”.”.

A first-century tombA first-century tomb

Caiaphas’ tombCaiaphas’ tomb

GA engineers used the data GA engineers used the data from the Biblical record and from the Biblical record and geologic information about geologic information about the rock in Palestine to the rock in Palestine to calculate an approximate calculate an approximate weight of weight of 1.5-2 tons for the 1.5-2 tons for the tomb stonetomb stone of Joseph’s of Joseph’s tomb.tomb.

Who Who moved moved

the stone?the stone?

The enemies of Jesus had The enemies of Jesus had no reason to move the no reason to move the stone!stone! Now on the next day, which is the one Now on the next day, which is the one

after the preparation, the chief priests after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, “Sir, we remember with Pilate, and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ “Therefore, give orders for the again.’ “Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third grave to be made secure until the third day, lest the disciples come and steal day, lest the disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” deception will be worse than the first.”

Pilate said to them, “You have a Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone. guard they set a seal on the stone. (Matthew 27:62-66)(Matthew 27:62-66)

The apostles could not The apostles could not have moved the stone!have moved the stone!

They were not psychologically They were not psychologically prepared to do such a thing. prepared to do such a thing.

When therefore it was evening, on When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for where the disciples were, for fear fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and *said to them, in their midst, and *said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)“Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)

They could not have They could not have successfully gotten past the successfully gotten past the guards. guards.

The Biblical text clearly The Biblical text clearly indicates that the stone was indicates that the stone was removed removed beforebefore the disciples the disciples visited the tomb again.visited the tomb again.

The stone was The stone was miraculously removed by miraculously removed by an angel of God.an angel of God.

And behold, a severe And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and descended from heaven and came and rolled away the came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. stone and sat upon it. (Matthew 28:2)(Matthew 28:2)

Why was Why was the stone the stone moved?moved?

Why was the stone Why was the stone moved?moved?

The stone was not moved so The stone was not moved so that Jesus could get out! that Jesus could get out!

The stone seems to have been The stone seems to have been moved so that those outside moved so that those outside could look in!could look in!

And behold, a severe earthquake had And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as like lightning, and his garment as white as snow; and the guards shook for fear of him, snow; and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. And the angel and became like dead men. And the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. “He is not here, Jesus who has been crucified. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see Come, see the place where He was lying.the place where He was lying. (Matthew 28:2- (Matthew 28:2-6)6)

Who did the stone Who did the stone move?move? It moved the apostles to seek It moved the apostles to seek

the truth about Jesus’ the truth about Jesus’ resurrection.resurrection.

Peter therefore went forth, Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and and the other disciple, and they were going to the tomb. they were going to the tomb. (John 20:3)(John 20:3)

It moved them to give their It moved them to give their lives in testifying that He was lives in testifying that He was alive.alive.

“ “This Jesus God raised up This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all again, to which we are all witnesses. (Acts 2:32)witnesses. (Acts 2:32)

It moved them to suffer great It moved them to suffer great things for their testimony.things for their testimony.

If we have hoped in Christ in If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. (1 men most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19)Corinthians 15:19)

What event had the power to move What event had the power to move the apostles to overcome all fears, the apostles to overcome all fears, face the power of an enemy who face the power of an enemy who had crucified their Lord and charge had crucified their Lord and charge them with killing the Son of God them with killing the Son of God and affirm that He was alive!? Only and affirm that He was alive!? Only the resurrection can explain the the resurrection can explain the way the disciples were moved to way the disciples were moved to alter their life’s course and endure alter their life’s course and endure so many things!so many things!

Does the Does the stone stone

move you?move you?