Breaking Through: The Stones Rolled Away in the Bible

In the Bible, the act of rolling away stones serves as a profound metaphor for overcoming mental and spiritual barriers. Two key moments—one in the Old Testament with Jacob and one in the New Testament with the resurrection of Jesus—illustrate how breaking through obstacles allows us to access new states of being and spiritual awakening. Through Neville Goddard's teachings, we can interpret these stories as powerful symbols of manifesting our desires and unlocking the creative power of imagination.

Jacob and the Stone at the Well (Genesis 29:10)

When Jacob arrives at a well, he finds a heavy stone covering it. To water the sheep, Jacob rolls the stone away, overcoming the physical obstacle to access life-sustaining water.

In Neville’s terms, the stone represents the subconscious mind's resistance—our limiting beliefs and doubts. Rolling it away signifies the effort required to align our conscious and subconscious minds, breaking through those mental barriers to manifest our desires. Just as Jacob’s physical strength moves the stone, our mental persistence can overcome the resistance within, unlocking the flow of creativity and manifestation.

The Stone Rolled Away at the Resurrection (Matthew 28:2, Mark 16:4)

In the New Testament, the stone blocking Jesus’ tomb is rolled away, revealing his resurrection. This moment signifies the triumph of spiritual awakening—an elevation from limitation to a new state of being.

For Neville, this event represents the ultimate breakthrough: the overcoming of old self-conceptions and the awakening to the power of imagination. The stone, in this case, symbolises the mental and emotional blocks that confine us to a limited version of reality. Rolling it away allows access to higher consciousness, where transformation and manifestation become possible.

Matthew and Mark: Divine Intervention and Sudden Realisation

In Matthew and Mark, the rolling away of the stone is an act of divine intervention, symbolising a dramatic breakthrough in consciousness. For Neville, this represents the moment of realisation when the individual becomes consciously aware of their ability to create reality through imagination. The divine force (symbolised by an angel) rolls away the stone, suggesting that there are times in spiritual awakening when external or internal events facilitate a sudden shift in perspective.

Luke and John: Internalising the Resurrection

In contrast, Luke and John focus on the internal realisation of the resurrection. There’s no mention of the stone being rolled away because the focus shifts to the personal recognition of the divine power within. In Neville’s interpretation, these Gospels point to the moment when one realises that the power of creation (the risen Christ) resides within them. The resurrection becomes an internal experience, where the individual understands that they are the creators of their reality through their imagination.

Comparing the Two Stories

Both stories depict the removal of an obstruction to access something greater. Jacob rolls away the stone to find life-giving water, while the resurrection reveals a new, transcendent state of being. In both instances, the stone is a symbol of mental barriers—resistances that block the flow of creativity and spiritual transformation.

Jacob’s story emphasises the persistence needed to overcome subconscious limitations, while the resurrection illustrates the spiritual awakening that comes when we break free from old beliefs. Both events point to the same truth: to manifest and experience transformation, we must first move past the mental blocks that hold us back.

The Power of Imagination

In both the Old and New Testaments, the stones represent the barriers within our minds. Moving them allows us to tap into the creative power of imagination. Just as Jacob rolls away the stone to access water, we must move past doubts and limiting beliefs to manifest our desires. Similarly, the resurrection story reminds us that spiritual renewal occurs when we transcend old thought patterns, aligning ourselves with our divine potential.

Conclusion: Stones as Symbols of Transformation

The stones in these biblical stories represent the challenges we face in our own consciousness. Rolling them away signifies the breakthrough required to access our full potential and manifest the life we desire. Through persistence, faith, and imagination, we too can overcome the mental barriers that limit us, unlocking the abundance and transformation that lie within.