Resurrection Egg Day 11

Day 11 Stone at the Tomb

The huge stone that covered the tomb was found rolled away.

Read: Matthew 28:1-3

A large stone-bigger than a door and as heavy as a car-was placed over the opening of a tomb to prevent the grave robbers from stealing the body of a dead person or valuables in the tomb that had belonged to the dead.

In the case of Jesus, the Pharisees were worried Jesus's disciples or other followeres would take the body, and then say Jesus had risen from the dead. In order to prevent this, Pilate had soldiers guard the tomb.

Pilate even had the soldiers close the tomb with an official Roman seal on the edge of the huge stone. Pilate and soldiers were sure this would keep the disciples from stealing Jesus's body because the penalty for breaking this seal was death.

When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body with spices, they were shocked to see that the stone had been moved away from the tomb. The soldiers were even gone, and all that the women found in the tomb was Jesus's empty grave clothes! They were fearful and didn't remember Jesus had told them He would rise from the dead. If only they'd remembered Jesus's words. They would have had faith instead of fear and confusion. Are there things in your life that cause you to be afraid and confused?

God wants you to remember His words. His words give us faith, hope, joy, courage, and direction-even when life is scary or confusing. Words about the stone being miraculously rolled away and about Jesus's resurrection from the dead are the most encouraging and hopegiving words a Christian could ever have!

See you tomorrow for the conclusion Day 12!