I have a question that has been nagging at me since before Easter when I decided to read about "the Easter story" (or rather re-read it).

I found a description of Jesus tomb (or Joseph of Aramathea's tomb). And being a typical tomb of the time, it would have been sealed by a large disc-shaped stone rolled down a sort of a groove, and then secured in place by a larger stone. Apparently, one man could have pushed the stone in place to seal the tomb, but it would have taken two or three strong men to push it back up again to open the tomb.

What I am wondering is: At dawn on the Sunday, when the women who were friends and relatives of Jesus went to the tomb to annoint Jesus body with oils they would have believed that the tomb would still be sealed.

Therefore, how did they expect to get in?

Not how DID they get in, but how did they EXPECT to get in?

My minister raised the same question on Sunday, thankfully their problem was solved though :D

My old pastor suggested: "Maybe they thought there would be lots of men there who would help them, or guards at the tomb who might open it for them".

But is seems unlikely to me that any gardeners (or who ever they might be) in the area, or tomb guards, would have opened the tomb for women that they didn't even know.

We know the problem was solved in the end, but what were the women thinking? Why would they make plans to go to the tomb in the first place if they knew they probably had no way to get inside?

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose?

Someone must have a plausible theory.

when you are grieving you dont actually think of the reality of the situation you just react .... I almost had a breakdown on the way to see my son after he was killed as I had forgotten his socks !!!!!!!! My father gave me a pair of his and all I could think was " he wouldnt be seen dead in his grandfathers socks " then went to pieces again. It is NOT logical as I said it is just reaction. they had been unable to annoint the body because of the sabbath but they NEEDED to do so for their own peace of mind so they would have just 2 gone to do it " ... dont know if that IS why but it woulds make sense to anyone who has suffered a loss that they didnt expect and found hard to accept ::02::

In Mark 16 verse 3 the women ask amoung themselves "who will roll the stone away" suggesting that they didn't know themselves how they would do it.

What I am wondering is: At dawn on the Sunday, when the women who were friends and relatives of Jesus went to the tomb to annoint Jesus body with oils they would have believed that the tomb would still be sealed.

Matthew 27:57-61 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: (58) He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. (59) And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, (60) And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: And he rolled away a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. (61) And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

It was Joseph of Arimathaea who had wrapped up the body of Jesus with a clean linen cloth. The same linen clothes that Peter seen laid over by themselves.

Luke 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Mark 27:60-61 After Joesph wrapped up the body of Jesus and laid him in the tomb he then rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and left. It was only one single man Joseph who rolled a "Great" stone to the door of the tomb and then departs.

After Joseph departed, Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary were sitting over against the tomb. This is how they came to know that a stone was rolled over the sepulchre.

Mark 27:62-66 Now the next day, that followed the day of preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, (63) Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver(Jesus) said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. (64) Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (65) Pilate said unto them, ye have a watch: make it sure as you can. (66) So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

After Jesus had been buried the cheif priests and Pharisees had came to Pilate and told him that they had remembered that that Jesus the deceiver said, while he was alive. He would rise again after three days.

Both the Pharisees and cheif priests wanted to have the tomb guarded until the third day was over as they told Pilate that the disciples of Jesus could come during the night and steal him away. Pilate granted their request and told them to go and make it as guarded as much as possible to do. And after they got the go ahead from Pilate they went and set up a watch at and around the sepulchre.

Mark 16:1-3 AND WHEN the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (2) And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. (3) And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre ?

Now none of these women knew that Pilate gave the priests and Pharisees permission to guard the sepulchre so the disciples would not be able to come by night and steal the body of Jesus and make it look like Jesus arose from the dead and the people would believe the resurrection of Jesus as this would cause Christianity to grow and hurt the followers of the priests and Pharisees.

Matthew 28:1-10 The women on their way to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body were wondering how they was going to get the great stone rolled away. (2) There was a huge earthquake as an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. (3) His countenance was like was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: (4) And for fear of him the keepers (soldiers) did shake, and became as dead men. (5) And the "angel answered" and said unto the women, "FEAR NOT YE:" For I Know That Ye Seek Jesus, Which Was Crucified. (6) "He Is Not Here: For He Is Risen" As He Said, Come See The Place Where The Lord Lay.

Matthew 28:11-15 In these verses you see that the cheif priests and Pharisees failed in their mission to guard the tomb of Jesus thinking they could keep the body of Jesus in the tomb. The soldiers had witnessed the tomb was empty and as they went on their way some of the soldiers went into the city to see the cheif priests what happened.

The priests along with the elders came together and talked with one another and decided to give a large sum of money to the soliers. They told the soldiers to go and tell a "lie" which was, "Saying, the disciples had came during the night and stole the body of Jesus away while they slept and if any of the events which was meaning Christ arose and how the angel rolled the stone away."
if any of this news was heard by the governor then we'll persuade him and take you and secure or lock those up who does.

The soldiers took the bribe of money and went as the priests and elders counciled them to do and they went and spread the "Lie" around that the disciples of Jesus came and stole his body while they were sleeping.

The Word of God says that this lie was well known an told to the Jews even to this day. There are many of the Jews who do not believe in the resurrection of Christ because of the lies the soldiers went about spreading and the soldiers took the large sum of money thay was used as a bribe so they would go out and spread the lie. Then if anyone told about the resurrection of Christ then they would be secured contained because of it.

Having said all of this the women who were on their way to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. These women didn[t know how they were going to roll the stone out of the doorway of the sepulchre so they could go on the inside the tomb and anoint the body of Jesus. All these women went by "faith" to the tomb not knowing how they were going to get inside the tomb.

But when it was time for Jesus to come out of the tomb then Jesus came out at the appointed time and left his linen clothes. It was the angel of the Lord who rolled the stone away. The women instead of being able to anoint the body of Jesus they witnessed an empty tomb as God had sent an angel to roll the stone away and the women didn't have to know how the stone would be moved for them but they found out the Lord had risen from the dead. And the women was told to go tell the discples Jesus has risen from the dead.

The "question" how was the women going to find somebody to roll the stone away. The "answer" was that the Lord had sent an angel to roll the stone away. Even though the women didn't get to anoint the body of Jesus as it was no longer in the tomb. The body of Jesus was gone as he had arose from the dead defeating death, hell and the grave being the firstfruits from the dead. Because Jesus has risen from the dead we have eternal life through the shed blood that was spilled on the cross.
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