He Didn’t Need to Roll The Stone
He was perfectly happy. He had perfect and complete joy without us. He created us and we spit on Him and slapped Him like an animal. We deserted Him in the greatest moment of need in human history. He left home for all of this because of love.
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)
His resurrection body could walk through doors.
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. (John 20:1)
Why did He tell the angel to roll away the stone? Because He needed to get out? He was long gone and his death clothes were neatly folded by the time the stone was rolled away. He cares for our weak faith. He will not break a bruised reed. Mary and Mary could have just believed Him when He said He would come back from the dead. But He bore with their weakness by giving the gift of an open tomb to look into.
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. [6] He is not here, for he has risen, as he said… See, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:5–7)
The angels long to look into the mystery of a sinner who has been redeemed. They will never understand the infinite mercy of God on their behalf. But the Lord loves them too. He gives one of these angels the indescribable joy of announcing, “HE IS RISEN!” Not only this, but the angel only spoke this message to Mary and Mary, then he left. The Lord gave this gift for the women. Nobody else had the joy of hearing HE IS RISEN from an angel except the women whose opinions would not have been admissible as evidence for anything at that time.
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (John 20:27)
I always used to read this Scripture as Jesus scolding Thomas for his disbelief. I don’t know if that’s exactly right. What if Jesus appeared to the fearful disciples a second time through a door that was still locked — though they should have no fear — just to show Thomas that He is who He said He was. Jesus did not need to plead or beg. But what if He, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, was gently encouraging Thomas the sheep to not disbelieve, though it was really hard Thomas to believe? What if Thomas wanted to believe but was so crushed by Jesus’ death that he did not want to be deceived? Jesus loved Thomas and He gave him an opportunity to exercise faith.
…but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
Jesus doesn’t owe us anything. It would be righteous and just for Him to let us to die in our sin. He sent an angel for no reason than to stack even more evidence to prove to our weak faith that we should believe Him. He gave the angel an honor the angel didn’t deserve — to be the first to say the words HE IS RISEN. He showed up to the fearful disciples numerous times in their locked room to prove himself to their weak faith, so that they might look back with gratitude for how He humbled Himself for their weakeness when they finally were indwelled by His Spirit.
He could just command faith and rightly damn us when we don’t believe. But His signs show His greatness and His goodness.
Lord, I believe, but my faith is weak. Please help to believe and not disbelieve. Please give me my daily bread of faith today. Please help me to remember that you provide LIFE in Your name when I want to go my own way.
