Who moved the stone?
And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat on it. – Matthew 28:2
Mark 16:3-4
3 On the way, they asked each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”
4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the very large stone had already been rolled aside.
Luke 24:2-3
2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.
For decades, a bizarre and rare anomaly perplexed visitors to Death Valley National Park. Heavy stones appear to move across the dried lake bed known as Racetrack Playa, leaving trails behind them in the cracked mud. Some of these trails have been measured to be as long as 820 feet. The patterns varied, with some trails forming graceful curves while others created straight lines that abruptly shifted left or right.
The sailing stones of Death Valley, also known as the moving or sliding rocks, first caught attention in the early 1900s. The earliest documented mention of them dates back to 1915 when a prospector named Joseph Crook reported seeing the rocks and their trails. Scientists have been trying to solve the mystery of the sailing stones for over 100 years.
The apparent movement of these rocks has been attributed to everything from magnetic fields to space aliens or pranksters. Some believed that dust devils might move the rocks, some of which weigh as much as 700 lbs. Other researchers thought that the strong winds frequently whipping across the vast lake bed could cause the stones to slide. These and other theories were eventually disproved, leaving scientists without a conclusive explanation. Adding to the enigma is the fact that no one had actually seen the rocks move.
All that has changed!
In 2014, researchers Dr. Richard Norris and James Norris, with assistance from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NASA, finally solved the long-standing mystery of how the stones moved. They not only discovered the solution but also captured videos of the stones in motion. (https://earthsky.org/earth/death-valley-sliding-slithering-sailing-stone-mystery-solved/).
Their research revealed that shallow pools of water are formed in the playa from rain or melting snow. During the night, temperatures drop below freezing, resulting in the formation of a thin layer of ice. When the sun comes up, the ice melts and breaks into large floating panels. These buoyant sheets of ice float on top of the water. Due to gentle winds, usually around 10 mph, the ice sheets are pushed, causing them to nudge the stones across the slick, muddy surface of the playa, leaving visible tracks. Their study was published in the journal PLOS ONE on August 27, 2014.
PLOS ONE
Who Moved the Stone?
Frank Morison, a journalist and writer, was initially an atheist and skeptical about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He embarked on an intensive investigation to disprove the resurrection, determined to show that it was merely a myth. However, as he delved deeper into his research, his perspective began to change. He found the evidence for the resurrection compelling. His book, “Who Moved the Stone?” first published in 1930, details his journey from skepticism to faith, providing a thorough examination of the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. “Who Moved the Stone?” has since become a classic in Christian apologetics. It showcases how a critical investigation led an atheist to become a believer.
REFLECT & PRAY
The angel rolling away the stone revealed an empty tomb and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection is proof that Christ’s sacrifice for sins met the Father’s requirements for salvation
Father, thank You for telling us who moved the stone so that we might have eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ.
INSIGHT
According to the Bible, an angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the tomb. This is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Tombs during the first century differ from those of today. The tombs of the wealthy, like Joseph of Arimathea, were commonly hewn out of rock and were sealed with a heavy stone to close the entrance. It was heavy and required two or more strong people to move it. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus rolled it into place (John 19:39-42).
Rolling the sizeable circular stone to close the tomb where Jesus was buried required the strength of both men.
The women were present when Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus prepared the body and placed Jesus in the tomb (Mark 15:46).
Observing where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus placed the body of Jesus, the women took note of the spot with plans to return after the Sabbath to lovingly anoint the body (Mark 15:46, Mark 16:1-2).
On that Sunday morning, they arrived at the tomb and found the stone rolled away and the body was gone (Luke 24:2).
The women were shocked, puzzled, and troubled. Mary Magdalene mistakenly assumed it was stolen (Luke 24:4, John 20:1-2).
Suddenly, the angel’s words changed everything. Fear and confusion were transformed into faith, hope, and worship.
Matthew 28:6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come see where his body was lying.
Matthew 28:1-10
1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
2 Suddenly, there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.
3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint
.
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come see where his body was lying.”
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.
9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed
He lives! (Alfred H. Ackley)
Verse 1
I serve a risen Savior,
He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy,
I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.
Chorus
He lives! He lives!
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me, and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives! He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart!
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 