And when they looked they saw that the stone was rolled away-–. Mark 16:4
At times we are called upon to remove certain barriers that block our blessings—such as was the case at the raising of Lazarus ( John 11:39). But in other instances it is God who rolls the stone away–assuring us that He is in control and capable of meeting our needs. Can you imagine the great delight of those women who discovered that our Lord’s tomb was empty– that the stone had been moved away! Spurgeon described it well:
“This stone had worried the women, as they hurried toward the grave. They knew it was there, that it was too heavy for them with their frail hands to roll away, and they wondered how they could get it removed. But now, when they came in sight of the tomb—they looked up and saw that the stone was rolled away!
This incident illustrates many experiences in our common life. We worry about difficulties and obstacles which lie in our path—and seem to block our progress. But when we move on obediently, and come to the place of the supposed hindrance or obstacle—it is gone, or it was never there, except in our imagination! We all know that very many of our anxieties prove to be really groundless in the end.
Here, we ought to learn the lesson once for all—when God sends us anywhere, that He also makes it possible for us to go. Duty’s paths always open for us, as we go on—not before we start—but as we obey and move forward. Yet we must not expect there will never be any difficulties to meet, or obstacles to surmount. God never has promised that! Too easy a path is often a bane in life—not a blessing! The difficulties and obstacles that remain, may be made stepping-stones by which we shall rise to nobler and higher Christian character!“
