Luke 24:2, Why was the Stone Rolled Away?
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
//While I’m not a proponent of trying to harmonize scripture, sometimes it’s interested to do so and see where a story leads. Here’s a case where it takes three Gospels to arrive at an explanation for why the stone was rolled away from the tomb.
If, as the Gospel of John asserts, Jesus was able to walk through doors or walls in his resurrection body (see John 20:19), why do you suppose the stone was rolled away? Surely Jesus needed no help escaping, right?
Perhaps the answer is hinted at a couple verses later in Luke:
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. –Luke 24:4
Were these the men who rolled away the stone? Were they angels? If we read the same story in Matthew, it tells how there were not two men, but one angel. He arrived as the two Marys appeared at the tomb.
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. –Matthew 28:2
So the angel(s) who opened the tomb arrived after Jesus had already made his exit. One could conclude that the stone was not rolled away so that Jesus could escape, but so that witnesses could enter and verify his resurrection.
Fantasy Football, Anyone?
Put on the whole uniform of the Team, that ye may be able to stand against the blitz of oncoming linebackers. Don the hip pads of truth, the shoulder pads of righteousness, the cleats of preparation. Don’t forget the facemask of faith and the helmet of salvation. Then clutch the pigskin with much Spirit, for that is what the Play Book of your Coach in Heaven demands.The River of Life
Twice before Lee Harmon has written about Christian topics, once on the gospel of John and once on the book of Revelation. But the question people keep asking him is this: As a liberal Christian, why do you care so much about the Bible? Others wonder whether he is truly a Christian at all.
The Way It Happened
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| Revelation: A love story gone awry. | The Gospel: A love story set aright. |
What really happened 2,000 years ago? How did a persecuted minority of end-time believers known as Christians, with their dreams of Armageddon and a conquering Messiah named Jesus, evolve into the largest religion in the world? Author Lee Harmon explores the period in which the New Testament was written in his books about John's Gospel and Revelation.
(Bloggers: you may be eligible for a free review copy! Just contact us.)
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The God Show
Lee Harmon interviewed on The God Show about the History Channel's miniseries The Bible and Lee's latest book, John's Gospel: The Way It Happened.
About Lee
Hello! I'm an author, historical Jesus scholar, book reviewer, and liberal Christian, which means I appreciate and attempt to exercise the humanitarian teachings of Jesus without getting hung up on any particular supernatural or religious beliefs.
The Bible is a magnificent book that has inspired and spiritually fed generations for thousands of years, and each new century seems to bring a deeper understanding of life’s purpose. This is true of not only Christianity; through the years, our age-old religions are slowly transforming from superstitious rituals into humanitarian philosophies. In short, we are growing up, and I am thrilled to be riding the wave.
I avidly read all thought-provoking religion titles. New authors: I'd love to read and review your book!
Contact me here.
About Leslie
Hi! While Lee writes the articles and reviews the books, I edit, organize, and maintain the blog. The views expressed here are Lee's but I'm his biggest supporter! :-)
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