Who Rolled the Stone Away from Jesus’ Tomb?
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christian faith, celebrated as the ultimate demonstration of God’s power over death and the guarantee of eternal life for believers. The Gospels record a central detail of the stone that sealed Jesus’ tomb–a stone that was found rolled away on the first Easter morning. This seemingly simple event is loaded with significance. Who rolled the stone away from Jesus’ tomb? Who first saw that the stone had been moved? And which angel, if any, is identified as the one who performed this act? This article will explore these questions and the event’s deeper meaning by looking at the relevant biblical texts.
The Burial and Sealing of the Tomb
The Gospels agree that after Jesus’ crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Jewish council and a secret disciple of Jesus, requested permission from Pilate to take Jesus’ body. With Nicodemus, Joseph wrapped the body in linen cloths with spices and laid it in a new tomb hewn out of rock (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38-42). A large stone was rolled against the entrance of the tomb, both as a practical measure to protect the body and as a symbol of finality.
Matthew’s Gospel adds a unique detail: “The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, ‘Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, “After three days I will rise.” Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, “He has risen from the dead,” and the last fraud will be worse than the first.’ Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.’ So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.” (Matthew 27:62-66)
Thus, the stone was not only heavy and difficult to move, but also officially sealed and guarded, making any tampering a serious offense.
The Discovery of the Rolled-Away Stone
All four Gospels record that the stone was found rolled away when the women arrived at the tomb early on the first day of the week. The accounts, while differing in some details, are united in their testimony that the stone’s removal was not the work of Jesus’ followers.
Mark’s Gospel captures the concern of the women as they approach the tomb: “And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 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.” (Mark 16:2-4)
Luke’s account is similar:�“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” (Luke 24:1-3)
John’s Gospel focuses on Mary Magdalene: “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)
Matthew’s account, however, provides the most explicit answer to the question of who rolled the stone away: “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.” (Matthew 28:1-4)
Who Rolled the Stone Away?
According to Matthew, it was “an angel of the Lord” who rolled the stone away. The text does not name this angel, nor does it specify whether it was Gabriel, Michael, or another angelic being. The phrase “angel of the Lord” is used elsewhere in Scripture to refer to various angelic messengers, but in this context, the identity is left unspecified. The focus is on the divine origin of the act, not the personality of the messenger.
The angel’s descent is accompanied by a great earthquake, a sign of God’s intervention. The guards, who had been stationed to prevent any tampering with the tomb, are rendered powerless by fear, “like dead men.” The angel then sits on the stone in a posture of triumph and authority.
It is important to note that the stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out. The resurrection had already occurred before the women arrived. Jesus, in his glorified, resurrected body, was not constrained by the physical barrier of the tomb. Later, the Gospels describe Jesus appearing in locked rooms (John 20:19, 26), further indicating that the stone was no obstacle to him. The angel rolls away the stone so that the women–and later the disciples–can see the empty tomb and bear witness to the resurrection.
Who Was the First to See That the Stone Had Been Rolled Away?
The Gospel accounts agree that women were the first to discover the empty tomb. Mark and Luke mention a group of women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. John’s account focuses on Mary Magdalene, who arrives at the tomb “while it was still dark” and sees that the stone has been removed.
“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)
Mary Magdalene is the first individual specifically named as witnessing the rolled-away stone, though the Synoptic Gospels indicate she was accompanied by other women. This detail is significant, as it underscores the role of women as the first witnesses to the resurrection–a striking feature in a culture where women’s testimony was often undervalued.
The Angelic Message and the Open Tomb
The angel’s message to the women is central to the resurrection proclamation: “But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.’” (Matthew 28:5-6)
The open tomb is an invitation to faith. The angel does not roll the stone away for Jesus’ benefit, but for the benefit of the witnesses. The empty tomb is open for inspection, and the evidence of the resurrection is available for all who will come and see.
Theological Implications of the Rolled-Away Stone
The rolling away of the stone is more than a historical detail; it is a powerful symbol of the new reality inaugurated by the resurrection. The stone represents the finality of death, the weight of sin, and the barriers that separate humanity from God. Its removal signifies the victory of Jesus over all that would keep us from life and hope.
Paul writes of the resurrection: “When you were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)
The empty tomb is the visible sign that death has been defeated and that forgiveness and new life are available to us who trust in Jesus.
Witness and Invitation
The open tomb is also an invitation to witness and proclamation. The angel instructs the women: “Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:7)
Jesus’ resurrection is not a private event, but the foundation of the Christian mission. The stone is rolled away so that the good news can go out to the world.
Conclusion
Who rolled the stone away from Jesus’ tomb? According to the clear testimony of Scripture, it was an angel of the Lord, acting by the power and authority of God. The stone’s removal is a sign of God’s victory over death, the futility of human opposition to God’s purposes, and the invitation to faith and witness. The first to see the rolled-away stone was Mary Magdalene, accompanied by other women, who became the first witnesses to the resurrection. The identity of the angel is not specified, emphasizing that the act was God’s work, not the accomplishment of any human or even angelic personality. The empty tomb, open for all to see, stands as a perpetual testimony to the reality of the resurrection and the hope that it brings to all who believe. In the words of the angel: “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:6). The stone is rolled away–not to let Jesus out, but to let the world in to witness the dawn of new creation.