Stop Staring At That Stone

In this Easter Sunday message titled 'Stop Staring at That Stone,' Pastor Steven Furtick delivers a powerful reflection on John 20:1-18, focusing on Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the empty tomb. He draws a profound contrast between how the resurrection is perceived—by believers as a triumphant victory and by Mary as a devastating loss—highlighting how our perspective shapes our experience. Furtick emphasizes that what we see as a problem today may be a platform for God’s power tomorrow, urging listeners to shift their focus from the stone (symbolizing past pain, loss, or failure) to the risen Savior. Using a personal family photo of his daughters during a bunny raffle, he illustrates how the same event can be viewed through vastly different lenses: grief, confusion, and joy. He challenges the audience to recognize that God is often working in the dark, in transition, and beyond our understanding—especially when we're blinded by tears or trapped in the past. The message culminates in a call to action: turn away from the stone, stop clinging to what was, and embrace the living Christ who is standing, not lying.