According to Mark, when the women were approaching the tomb, they were talking amongst themselves about who would roll away the stone. They were being practical. Some commentators and theologians have argued that the fact that they were going to the tomb showed they lacked faith in Jesus’ telling of this resurrection. The fact that they were going to wash and anoint his body somehow meant that they understood their journey as disciples to be over.
I disagree. I don’t know that it was a lack of faith that led these women out into the early morning hours. I think it was grief, fear, and love. If their journey of discipleship was over, then what were they doing there? Why would they be concerned about washing and perfuming the body? As one woman theologian wrote, “They are the custodians of the crucifixion”. These three women, walking in the last of the morning darkness, are without any of the disciples. There is no mention of Peter, James or John. Just the two Mary’s and Salome. And they are performing what they might think to be their last act of love for their friend, teacher and leader.
But when they arrived, the stone was already rolled away. New life had begun. And yes, according to Mark, the women went away amazed and terrified…they were silent. I don’t know that their silence was out of disbelief (which has also been suggested by those aforementioned scholars), but rather out of wonderment. What does this new life mean? What will life be like with a resurrected Jesus?
For the last couple of days I’ve been thinking about the stones in our lives. Those obstacles, fears, griefs, or angers that keep us locked away in tombs. We can choose to stay there. No one will bother us as we allow our lives to quietly decay. Or we can choose to come out of our graves. To experience the resurrection. To experience new life. But there’s a catch! Since we know how the rest of the story goes with Jesus and the disciples, resurrection life—new life—is about action. It calls us to both follow and lead at different times. It calls us to boldness. It calls us to help others roll away the stones in front of their tombs. It calls us to love.
So yes, the stone was already rolled away. Alleluia! May we find ways to roll away the stones that keep us trapped in our graves and enjoy life in the Risen Christ.