Luke 24:1-5

“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb”

My eyes are often drawn to stones. Some jut up out of the ocean so seagulls have a place to perch, small pebbly ones lay the bed for a stream, others become the foundation for a home. They have purpose.

Easter is a time that Christians know also focuses upon stones. The tomb in which they laid Jesus was newly hewn from stone. A large stone covered the entry to the tomb where Jesus was buried. It sealed the tomb to keep robbers and others out. Such a large stone rolled across the entry to a stone tomb should have signified the end of Jesus and all those who mourned him would remember “the good old days” when Jesus was with them. They would live life with only the memories.

Yet such is not the story of Christians that has been passed down from one generation to another—not the story of those who have experienced the presence of the living Jesus in their lives—not the story as recorded in all four Biblical Gospel accounts. Luke says:

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they [the women] came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women] were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but he has risen!”

The stone was rolled away! Jesus did not stay in the tomb but arose on Easter so that we might have life and hope and joy. Celebrate this event! God offers each of us new life in the risen Jesus we call the Christ. Even the stone shouts out with promise and Good News! May you experience Easter joy and hope in your life today and in the days and months ahead.

Prayer: Risen Jesus! We sing praise to you! We raise our hearts and hands in thanksgiving. Empower us to live our lives in the joy of your grace and love. Amen