Mark 16:3-5
And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The women's question, "Who will roll away the stone for us?" reveals they had no idea about the Roman seal and guard placed on the tomb. Their immediate, practical concern shows a profound unawareness of the spiritual and political forces at play, focusing only on the physical obstacle before them.
These women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, have come early on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus' body with spices, but they are worried about how they will move the massive stone sealing the tomb. Unbeknownst to them, Roman guards have been posted and the stone sealed by Jewish authorities, security measures they are completely unaware of as they approach.
The women approached the tomb with a very real, practical problem. But they were unaware of the divine security already in place.
When the women came to Jesus' tomb early that Sunday morning, their minds were fixed on a physical obstacle: a huge stone blocking the entrance. Their question, “Who will roll away the stone for us?” reveals their primary concern.
What's striking is that they had no idea about the events that had already transpired overnight. Matthew tells us the chief priests and Pharisees had specifically asked Pilate to secure the tomb, fearing the disciples might steal the body (Matthew 27:62-66). Pilate granted their request, and a guard of soldiers was posted. The stone was sealed, adding an extra layer of security.
So, the women's anxiety about moving the stone was understandable from their perspective, but totally unaware of the powerful divine intervention that had already occurred. God’s work often happens beyond our immediate sight and understanding.
They worried about who would move the stone, but when they arrived, their biggest problem was already solved.
The journey to the tomb was likely filled with grief and perhaps a sense of helplessness for Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. They were focused on the massive stone, a symbol of their despair and the finality of death. Their question wasn't just about a physical task; it represented their fear that they couldn't even access the body to perform their final anointing rites.
But the text reveals something amazing. As they approached, they looked up and saw that the stone—the very thing they were agonizing over—had already been rolled away. It was “exceedingly great,” emphasizing the impossibility of them moving it themselves and the significance of its removal.
This wasn't just a convenient happenstance; it was God's powerful, preemptive act. It’s a beautiful picture of how God often meets us in our anxieties, often before we even realize our problem has been addressed. The difficulty they feared was no longer an issue.
Understand the original words
ekthambeomai · Greek Verb
A state of intense fear, agitation, or being deeply troubled. It often describes the human reaction to the intrusion of the divine or supernatural into the mundane world.
The women's immediate concern about who would move the stone highlights their lack of awareness that the tomb had been sealed and guarded, a detail only the authorities and the Roman soldiers knew.
c. AD 30
Jesus's Crucifixion
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. His body is laid in a tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea.
c. AD 30 (evening)— this verse
Tomb Secured and Guarded
Following a request from Jewish leaders, Pontius Pilate orders the tomb sealed with a large stone and a Roman guard to prevent Jesus's body from being stolen.
c. AD 30 (early Sunday morning)
Women Visit the Tomb
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome approach the tomb intending to anoint Jesus's body, but they worry about the massive stone blocking the entrance.
c. AD 30 (Sunday morning)
Tomb Found Empty
Upon arrival, the women discover the stone has been rolled away and the tomb is empty, encountering angels who announce Jesus's resurrection.
This verse describes Joseph of Arimathea rolling a great stone to the entrance of Jesus' tomb, establishing the physical barrier the women later questioned how to move.
Genesis 18:14The question 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' echoes the women's implicit doubt and highlights God's power to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, like rolling away the stone.
Joshua 3:15The Jordan River, which was overflowing its banks, stopped flowing when the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into it, illustrating how God intervenes to remove barriers before His people.
Isaiah 40:3-4This prophecy speaks of a voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord, and that 'every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low.' This speaks to God's power to level all obstacles, just as the stone was rolled away.
cambridgeMark 16:3: "And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?"
3 . And they said among themselves ] Unaware of the deputation of the Jewish rulers, which had gone to Pilate, and secured the sealing of the Stone and the setting of the watch over the Tomb ( Matthew 27:62-66 ), their only anxiety was, Who shall roll away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?
wesleyMark 16:3: "And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?"
16:3 Who shall roll us away the stone - This seems to have been the only difficulty they apprehended. So they knew nothing of Pilate's having sealed the stone, and placed a guard of soldiers there.
The women's question, "Who will roll away the stone for us?" reveals they had no idea about the Roman seal and guard placed on the tomb. Their immediate, practical concern shows a profound unawareness of the spiritual and political forces at play, focusing only on the physical obstacle before them.
These women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, have come early on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus' body with spices, but they are worried about how they will move the massive stone sealing the tomb. Unbeknownst to them, Roman guards have been posted and the stone sealed by Jewish authorities, security measures they are completely unaware of as they approach.
These women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, have come early on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus' body with spices, but they are worried about how they will move the massive stone sealing the tomb. Unbeknownst to them, Roman guards have been posted and the stone sealed by Jewish authorities, security measures they are completely unaware of as they approach.
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Once the stone was moved, the women’s attention could finally shift from a physical barrier to the miracle itself.
The women’s question, “Who will roll away the stone?” kept their focus entirely on the obstacle. It was a question born of grief, fear, and limited perspective.
However, the moment they saw the stone rolled away, their perspective changed instantly. Their attention was drawn inward, into the tomb, where they encountered the angelic messenger.
The absence of the stone wasn't just about access; it was the sign that the impossible had happened. It signaled that death had been conquered and Jesus was alive.
This transition is crucial for us. When we are fixated on the 'stones' in our lives—the problems, the setbacks, the things that seem too big to overcome—we miss the greater reality of God's power and presence. The rolled-away stone invites us to look beyond our difficulties and see the risen Christ, who is the answer to all our problems and the hope of our salvation.
"And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting o…" — The women's question, "Who will roll away the stone for us?" reveals they had no idea about the Roman seal and guard placed on the tomb. Their immediate, practical concern shows a profound unawarenes…
