Devotion: Rolling Away the Stone

by Peter L. DeGroote

Who shall roll away the stone? Mark 16:1-8

1. By the time Jesus’ body had been placed in the tomb it was the Sabbath (after sunset). No work could be done until the third day. So, early on that day three women walked to the tomb with spices and oil for the body, a common burial practice. Wondering who would roll away the stone that covered the entrance, they discovered it had already been done. Inside the tomb was a young man who told them Jesus was not there, he had risen.

2. In the Book of Acts is an understanding of the early church in the words of Peter: But God raised him up, having freed him from death… (2:24). In the resurrection God had taken a stand against the human hate and violence that had killed Jesus. God had taken a stand against death. (The Greek word anastasis, which is often translated as resurrection, means a stand against death.)

3. Who will roll away the stone to reveal to us God's stand against our death? What are the tools by which the stone blocking our spiritual insight, understanding, and growth is rolled away? We cannot avoid the importance of the Way of life Jesus lived and taught. His rejection of the values and procedures by which humans usually design their lives and societies was the reason for his crucifixion. Jesus taught a way of life that can seem almost like a parallel universe that we can step into. In the words of early Christians: There are two Ways, one of Life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two. Jesus taught the Way of Life.

4. The communal table became the central symbol of Jesus’ good news. It is a symbol of community, of the necessary reconciliation among people in order to find the individual and community harmony that leads to a harmony with God.

5. Just as important as the table, the empty cross is the symbol of God's stand against death. Better said, it is a symbol of God's stand for life-for the Way of Life Jesus taught. Validating the table, the empty cross is a constant reminder of two things. First, that we cannot defeat God's activity against hatred and intimidation, violence and killing.  Second, that being at the table is a way of joining in God's activity.

6. Living in Jesus way, in community, in the shadow of the empty cross is the Way to life as it was designed to be.