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On that resurrection morning, the garden where Jesus’ tomb was located was quiet. Nothing was expected. The chief priests and Pharisees feared that Jesus might rise from the dead, but their concerns were more political than literal. They believed that the disciples might perform a trick and spread rumors that Jesus was alive. They secured the tomb with a seal, guards (around 4 to 16 Roman soldiers), and a large stone that could not be easily rolled (Matt 27:66).
In Matt 28:2, the Bible says, ‘And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.’ The seal was broken, the stone was removed and the place was shaken. But none of these happened to bring Jesus out. Jesus, who rose from the grave by the power of the Holy Spirit needed no angel to help him in removing that stone.
The stone was not moved for Jesus to come out; it was moved for the women who came to anoint Jesus that morning to come in and see.
The angel said, ‘He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay (Matt 28:6).’ Nothing could hold Him, not even ‘death’. Heaven came down that day to give mankind a message: Don’t seek the living One among the dead. He is not here, He is risen.
I got it all wrong with the image of an angel removing the stone and Jesus walking out of it. NO! Jesus had a glorified body and He could walk through the walls or doors (John 20:19). The stone was moved for us to go in and see the place where He was lying. What for?
This is the message of resurrection: Nothing could bind Him, not even death, and in Christ, nothing can bind us! We are free, free from sin, flesh, and death. He conquered them all!