In a few more days, it will be Easter, the most joyous celebration of our faith. This is the occasion on which we base our hope, our lives, and our future. Throughout the world and through all of Christendom, the celebrations are held in a myriad of ways but all point to the opening of the tomb and the coming forth of the Risen King in power and glory.

When Jesus Christ died and was sealed in the tomb, everyone thought it was over. His disciples and his followers, including his mother, Mary, and the other women who traveled with Him to serve him, stood in shock and disbelief and watched him die the horrible death of those being crucified. Luke 23:55 says, "The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it." The rock was rolled in front of it, and the tomb was sealed.

Do you know how or why tombs were made? Apparently, tombs were prepared ahead of time by those who could afford to because at the time of a death, it was difficult to dig a hole in the ground. The ground was extremely rocky and very hard to dig so that tombs were frequently carved out ahead of time in preparation for families to have a place to preserve their dead. The size carved out enabled the deceased to be laid out on a shelf or into a horizontal hole bored deeply into the rock. There was generally a narrow walkway, and then a large stone was pre-set to a rut so it could be rolled securely over the opening. This large stone usually required a few men to move it and was snugly fitted to deter grave thieves.

Do you know what "sealed" meant? In those times, it meant "secured and preserved in that state." In Jesus’ case, it was even guarded. But the sealing was done in such a way that the stone was so carefully fitted to that tomb that surely if someone ever became trapped inside, they couldn’t possibly get out, ever, unless someone rolled aside the stone.

In my meditations, I have wondered: Is the tomb of our heart still sealed? Have we accepted Jesus, but somehow left the tomb sealed? Is there a rock still rolled in place? Have we rolled the stone away for just a little while, then rolled it back? Have we hidden things in the tomb of our hearts for so long that stone entrance is overgrown and we can barely see the path? Have we ever truly let Him out of the tomb to walk in power and authority in our lives?

Is the tomb of our hearts sealed with unforgiveness? Or what about it being sealed with longing and looking back longingly to what used to be? What about the absolute cement of anger? Is it glued shut with regret over the past, or over unconfessed, secret sin? Is it sealed with loneliness or bitterness over unfulfilled dreams?

The question is, who is He to us really? Mark 16:9 says that Mary went "and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it." Do we genuinely believe it? Do we honestly believe He is truly alive today? When we hear His Voice within, does our soul stir with longing? What does it take to unseal the tomb in our hearts and actually release the power of the resurrection of Jesus into our lives?

First of all, it takes faith—the faith that says, "Jesus, I know You are no longer in the tomb. You are living and alive in the world today, and You are alive and well in my heart. You alone have the power to roll away the stone of the door of my heart."

It takes God’s Word—living, holy, and as sharp as a two-edged sword. It takes studying His message to us, becoming excellent students, and storing it within us to meditate on and to become a part of us. It takes turning to prayer instead of our own knowledge and insight. Opening that door takes listening to the Holy Spirit within us when He quietly speaks wisdom and understanding.

It takes connection with others to unseal the tomb. It takes the loving arms of each other to help lift us and give each of us strength to roll that stone away. Although it may seem impossible to unseal that solid glue of the years of doubt, fear, unbelief, or the plaster of doing things our own way and in our own strength, once we get beyond our obstinacy and defiance, the stone is rolled away.

Thrusting aside that heavy stone takes a great effort on our part, but the unblocking of our hearts and opening of them to the Mighty and Glorious Risen Savior will mean a magnificent sunrise in our lives. Because of that decision, we can fully experience His living work within us. The changes, the polishing, the growth, and the leaps and bounds of faith will be evident to those around us.

Finally, because of our faith in the Risen Savior, our final end is assured. Not only will we be transformed as we allow Him to freely wander in the "garden" of our hearts, but we will know Him in His Beauty and Majesty as He loves us with a depth we have never before known. We can only begin to truly experience the Risen Savior when the tomb is unsealed.

A Blessed Easter to each of us as we celebrate the stone of the tomb rolled away for good, and His powerful and victorious life within us.

Copyright Desiree Pheister

Desirée L.M. Pheister is a wife, mother, and grandmother. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, needlework and looking for ways to bless others. You may reach her at: marrion8955@yahoo.com