Building materials in the Heavenly City: the story of Jesus

Part 29 of 35 The stone rolled away

That evening, a rich follower of Jesus named Joseph of Arimathea laid his body in his own new tomb, cut into the rock. "Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance" (Matthew 27:60). The leaders had the stone sealed and soldiers posted to guard it.

At dawn on Sunday, the third day, Mary Magdalene and another Mary went to the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, and an angel of the Lord rolled away the stone and sat on it. The guards shook with fear. The angel said to the women: "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay" (Matthew 28:5–6).

The women ran to tell the disciples. Peter and another disciple ran to the tomb too, and found only the linen cloths lying there (John 20:3–8).

A round rolling stone in front of the Tomb of the Kings in Jerusalem, in an old photo. Photo: Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Imagined The materials

White marble, shining gold and glowing pearls: everything in this city is made to last and made to be beautiful.

Real world Rolling-stone tombs

Around Jerusalem, archaeologists have found many family tombs from Jesus's time cut into the rock. Most were closed with square stone blocks, but a few, belonging to rich families, had a large round stone that rolled along a groove in front of the doorway, like a giant wheel.

Real world Gold that never rusts

Gold is one of the few metals that never rusts or tarnishes, which is why ancient gold jewelry still shines today. Marble forms deep underground when limestone is squeezed and heated over millions of years.