Why Move the Stone?

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how” (Matthew 27.65).

When Jesus was crucified and buried, the chief priests and Pharisees requested that Pilate – the Roman governor – seal the tomb. Their purpose was not to keep Jesus in – for neither Pilate nor the leaders of the Jews had any faith that Jesus would come out. Their purpose, rather, was to keep the disciples out.

Likewise, God removed the stone - not to let Jesus out, but to let the witnesses in!

And note this: they made it secure against men – to keep us out. But they didn’t know how to make it secure against God – to keep Jesus in. They were guarding the outside. God was working on the inside! No guard would be posted there where Jesus was raised from the dead. No guard could be posted that had the ability to prevent this miracle of God on the inside.

The Enemy of life, along with the skeptics and antagonists to resurrection power, tries to seal up the tomb from the outside to keep Jesus’ disciples from telling people of the hope and power of the gospel: Christ has indeed been raised from the dead! But, the miracle of God takes place on the inside. No seal, no guard, no security, no power, no law passed by congress, and no executive order can keep that life from bursting forth in glorious witness!

See what the disciples testified to on Pentecost: “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact” (Acts 2.38). See how the authorities could not coerce them to be silent: “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” Acts 5.29-32.

Do not try to prevent the seal on the outside. Let the power of God, the power of the resurrection, bring forth life from within you. The life of Jesus will come forth; it will not have to be dragged out. Then, God will remove the stone and all will see that death has lost its hold on your Savior. Death has lost its hold on you.