Devotion: Roll Away the Stone and See the Light!
Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them.
And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” Matthew 28: 1-10 NLT
The two women must have gone to the tomb with heavy hearts. Their friend and teacher had been tortured and nailed to the cross. Imagine the anguish gripping their hearts as they made their way to the tomb! They had witnessed the death of a great man who they loved and revered. How frightened they must have been when they saw the stone rolled away and an angel spoke to them. Even the guards shook with fear and fainted. Fear suddenly turned to great joy, however, when the women understood their Savior was alive-risen from the dead! Hallelujah! He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
There are times in life we are afraid just like the women in the story. We feel frightened by life’s events, misunderstood, unloved, and even unlovable. There are stones in our pathway and many things to overcome. We aren’t sure how we can move forward. Christ calls on each of us in good times and bad to roll away the stones and see Him, the Resurrected Christ, the Light of the world. His invitation is open to everyone. It doesn’t matter how old we are or how much life we have lived. It doesn’t matter if we have committed sins we think are unforgivable. It doesn’t matter if we are unfamiliar with the Bible. All that is needed is to believe His promise.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV
Jesus forgives all and will walk with you every day, sometimes alongside of you and sometimes carrying the full weight of you and your burdens in His arms. He wants to help you roll away those stones and set you free. He wants you to be His. He wants to spend eternity with you. Answer His invitation. Roll away the stone and see the Light!
If you would like to serve as a member of the Sheridan Lutheran Writing Team and help to write devotions based on the text for the weekend, contact Amy Wagner.
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