“Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?’ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.” (Mark 16:2-4)

This was the experience of Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James when they went to the tomb where Jesus was laid after His crucifixion. They were worried about having access to Jesus because of the large stone blocking the entrance to the tomb where He was buried. BUT – when they arrived, their problem had already been solved. The stone was already rolled away. They had spent their time worrying about a potential problem, a problem that they could not solve on their own because the stone was much too big and too heavy for them to be able to move it. However, their problem was taken care of long before they even arrived on the scene. By the time they arrived, the stone had been moved and they had access to Jesus’s tomb.

So often, I feel like these women. I am worried about some insurmountable obstacle or some seemingly unsolvable problem looming large in my future, but when I finally arrive at that dreaded moment, I find that the insurmountable obstacle has already been moved out of my way. I could have enjoyed the journey had I known the stone would be moved by the time I arrived. Jesus had something to say to His disciples about worry. He told them –

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? . . . But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25, 33-34)

Days full of trouble – certainly true. BUT – miracles amid the mundane of our everyday lives – also true. The miracle of the rolled away stone was pretty extraordinary to be sure. However, even greater miracles preceded the moving of the stone. Jesus’s resurrection from the dead makes the minor miracle of boulder moving look easy. And there’s more. Just two days prior to the boulder moving, overcoming death day, a major miracle had occurred. It happened at the moment of Jesus’s death on the cross.

“With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Mark 15:37-38)

and another miracle followed immediately –

“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard His cry and saw how He died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’ ” (Mark 15:39)

the curtain torn, truth revealed and eyes opened to see Jesus’s true identity –

Matthew also records these same events giving more detail –

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’s resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely He was the Son of God!’ ” (Matthew 27:50-54)

The curtain being torn in two from top to bottom was an even greater miracle than the huge stone being rolled away from the tomb’s entrance. The curtain separated men from God in the temple. This was necessary because God is holy and sinful mankind couldn’t come directly into His presence – that is until the tearing of the curtain, the removing of the barrier. This is what Jesus came to do – make a way for us, for you and for me – a way for us to be reconciled to our Creator, God. This is what Jesus meant when He said He is “the way”.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” (John 14:6)

Paul explained it like this in Hebrews –

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)

The curtain has been torn in two. We can now enter into that most holy place through that “new and living way” that is Jesus Himself. The invitation has been given.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Some translations say “let us come boldly unto the throne of grace.” Because the curtain of separation is gone, you and I can now come boldly into God’s throne room at any time. A way has been made for us where previously there was no way. You and I have twenty-four/seven access to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The curtain is torn apart. The stone is rolled away. Jesus is risen. Jesus is our “new and living way” to God.

“I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)

When the temple curtain was torn in two, a new way was made and a myriad of miracles was set in motion. The centurion at the cross had his eyes opened causing him to proclaim – “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Jesus came back to life, conquering death once for all time. The stone was rolled away, granting access to the empty tomb, granting us access to witness the miracle of Christ’s resurrection. And the miracles just keep on coming! Salvation, forgiveness of sins, adoption into a forever family . . .

“for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ” (Romans 10:13)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will – ” (Ephesians 1:5)

“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -” (John 1:12)

maybe you, like me, often feel overwhelmed by mountains that need moving, stones that need rolled away, curtains that need to be torn apart, so that we have access to what we need most, which is access to our Savior, our Creator, our Heavenly Father. The good news is that access has been granted to you and to me. We can now come boldly into our Heavenly Father’s presence anytime we want. The curtain is gone, the stone is no longer blocking our way, and our Heavenly Father has already moved heaven and earth to redeem us for Himself. In the process God may have moved a few mountains. He continues to move the mountains in our lives daily.

So, don’t worry. Your mountains, like the stone, may already be moved by the time you get there. If not, take heart. God will move them in His good and perfect timing if they need to be moved. He has done it before. He will do it again.

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14)

sincerely, Grace Day