And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
they saw.
Matthew 28:2-4 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it…
Luke 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
they saw that the stone had been rolled away
The stone being rolled away is a significant detail, as it was a large stone meant to seal the tomb, preventing tampering or theft. This act is not just a physical reality but also a symbolic one, representing the removal of barriers between humanity and God through the resurrection of Jesus. The rolling away of the stone is a divine act, emphasizing that what is impossible for humans is possible with God. This event fulfills Jesus' prophecy about His resurrection and serves as a testament to His divine power.
even though it was extremely large
The mention of the stone's size underscores the miraculous nature of its removal. In the cultural and historical context, such stones were typically very heavy, requiring several men to move them. The fact that it was moved without human intervention highlights the supernatural aspect of the resurrection. This detail also serves to eliminate any doubt about the possibility of the disciples or others having moved the stone themselves, reinforcing the truth of the resurrection. The large stone can also be seen as a type of the law or sin, which Jesus has overcome, removing the barrier between God and humanity.
• Just moments earlier the women were discussing, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?” (Mark 16:3). Their heads were bowed in concern, but now they deliberately lift their eyes.
• Looking up is often the first step of faith—Psalm 121:1 says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?”.
• God routinely invites His people to shift focus from the problem to Him—see John 11:41, where Jesus lifts His eyes before raising Lazarus.
• Scripture presents eyewitness testimony as a cornerstone of credibility (1 John 1:1; Acts 1:3).
• The verb underscores that the resurrection is anchored in observable fact, not wishful thinking—parallel accounts in Luke 24:24 and John 20:18 echo the same emphasis on sight.
• What they saw immediately challenged every natural assumption they brought to the tomb.
• Matthew 28:2 explains how this happened: “There was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone”.
• The rolled-away stone is God’s visual sermon: the grave no longer holds the Lord of life. Romans 1:4 affirms He was “declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead.”
• The obstacle the women could not move had already been removed, illustrating Philippians 4:19—God supplies every need before we even ask.
• Mark 15:46 mentions Joseph’s heavy burial stone, underscoring that no human effort could have shifted it quietly or secretly.
• The detail stresses the miraculous—Jeremiah 32:17 reminds us, “Nothing is too difficult for You!”.
• By highlighting the stone’s size, Mark silences theories of grave robbery and affirms Luke 1:37: “For nothing will be impossible with God”.
Mark 16:4 records the women’s transition from anxious uncertainty to astonished faith. When they look up, they witness undeniable evidence that God has acted: the massive stone is gone, the tomb is open, and every barrier to believing the resurrection is removed. The verse assures us that what seems immovable to us is no obstacle to the Lord, inviting us to lift our eyes, see His power, and trust His Word without hesitation.
(4) For it was very great.--The words have been explained as giving the reason for their previous question, but it seems more natural to see in them St. Mark's explanation of his having used the word "rolled away" instead of saying, simply, "taken away" or "removed."Verse 4. - And looking up (ἀναβλέψασαι) they see (θεωροῦσιν) that the stone is rolled back (ἀποκεκύλισται): for it was exceeding great (μέγας σφόδρα). At this point we learn from St. John that Mary Magdalene ran away to tell Peter and John (John 20:2).