The Angel Did Not Roll Away the Stone for Jesus to Come Out

What does Easter remind us of?

This is a common question asked in religious education exams for both primary and secondary school students in some places.

I clearly remember how I used to answer that Easter reminds us of the resurrection of Jesus. And although that answer was correct, I must admit—what excited me most was not the powerful work God did in raising Jesus from the dead, but rather the fact that my answer earned me good marks.

To be honest, I was more interested in memorizing Bible verses for academic gain than for living a life aligned with the truths of Scripture. And I believe I’m not alone in that experience—perhaps some of you can relate.

Indeed, Easter reminds us of the resurrection of Jesus, but that resurrection is preceded by a journey: His birth, His growth, His suffering, His crucifixion, and His death! I am convinced that the story of Jesus’ resurrection is better understood when His death is also mentioned. After all, how can one appreciate the beauty of a resurrection without first understanding the reality of death? People might hear of His resurrection and still wonder, “That’s great—but how did He die?”

Today, allow me to focus on what happened after Jesus rose from the dead.

Scripture tells us that after Jesus died, He would rise again on the third day (see Matthew 16:21; 17:22–23; 20:18–19; Hosea 6:2). On that third day, His disciples came to visit the tomb, only to find it open—the stone that had sealed it had been rolled away. Some of the Gospel writers say it was an angel who rolled away the stone, and that the angel was even sitting on it (see Matthew 28:2; John 20:1–2).

But here’s a critical question:

Did the angel roll away the stone so that Jesus could come out?
The answer is No. Jesus rose with power and authority that could not be limited by time or space—there was no need for the stone to be moved for Him to exit the tomb (see John 20:19; Luke 24:31; 24:36–37; Acts 1:9).

Rather, the angel rolled away the stone so that Peter and John (John 20:3–6), Jesus’ disciples (John 20:8), and Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:1–6) could enter the tomb and witness that it was empty!

Their entering the tomb was not driven by curiosity, but by divine purpose—it served as solid evidence that the Scriptures had indeed been fulfilled, that Jesus had risen. This testimony became the foundation upon which the Church was fully redeemed. We are not saved by Jesus’ death alone; we are saved through His resurrection as well.

In His death, we were reconciled to God (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:21–22),
and in His resurrection, we received new life (Romans 6:4–5; 1 Peter 1:3; Galatians 2:20; John 14:19).

In Conclusion

The Bible records that Peter was the first to enter Jesus’ tomb. The others came but stood outside—though they later entered as well.

Even today, many people still stand outside the tomb. They have not yet entered to bear witness to His resurrection. These are people who know about God intellectually and speak about Him, yet have not aligned their lives with Christ.
Don’t delay—step in!

To you reading this message, I want to remind you: The angel did not roll away the stone so Jesus could come out. He rolled it away so that we could go in and witness the truth of His resurrection—because that is the very victory of every believer.

I don’t believe in the crucified Jesus only. I believe in the Jesus who was crucified and rose again on the third day!